Ghana History

It is believed that Ghanaians are descendents of people who migrated from the kingdom of Ghana in present-day Mali centuries ago.  Hence the name of the country when it became independent in 1960. 

The history of the country became clearer when the Europeans arrived around 1479.  The Portuguese came first, followed by the Dutch, Danes, Swedes, Prussians and the British.  They came for gold, ivory and spices.  They also came for slaves until slave trade was abolished in the British Empire in the 19^th century.  Gradually, British influence expanded at the expense of the other European powers.  For nearly the entire 19^th century, the British fought against and subdued the Ashanti tribe, the most powerful tribes militarily.  After WW I, they also took over Togoland, formerly a German colony.  The territory became a British colony under the name of Gold Coast.  From 1946 onwards, there was agitation for independence, and Ghana became independent in 1960.