Independence of Ghana
Cynthia Nabozny
Prof. Burnett
History of World Civilization
4 May 2013
The Independence of Ghana United were the people of what would soon be known as Ghana, who fought for the same single goal: independence from Great Britain. February of 1948 marked the official movement for Ghanaian independence. Led by Kwame Nkrumah, founder of the Convention People’s Party, strikes and nonviolent protests were implemented to accomplish Ghanaian independence. Many Ghanaians sought a less oppressive life with an abundance of opportunities that which they thought would become realized through the implementation of their own form of government. The Ghanaians, like so many other colonized people, could have never predicted the government they were fighting so willfully for would ultimately be that of a dictatorship and possess many similar oppressive interests very closely tied with those of the former colonial powers. One can derive from Ghana’s history that independence, or a popular historical event with much political weight did not necessarily mean a positive change for the majority of the people. It is important to consider that the less known acts and relations amongst the people of Ghana may have ultimately led to the fall of the dictatorship and a pathway to a better quality of life. Taking a step back, it is known that by 1957, Ghana had become independent and had a growing economy rich in diamonds, manganese, gold, and cocoa. Projects that built modern roads and the Volta Dam were also put into play. African unity and the formation of an African federal government were also very important to Nkrumah. Unfortunately, with too much emphasis on foreign affairs and less emphasis on the situation in Ghana, the economy declined, causing the country to fall victim to its foreign loans (Behrent).
In February of 1966, after Nkrumah publicly announced himself a dictator, the Ghanaian army took control of Accra, depleting the bit of diplomacy left in the country. Beneath
Prof. Burnett
History of World Civilization
4 May 2013
The Independence of Ghana United were the people of what would soon be known as Ghana, who fought for the same single goal: independence from Great Britain. February of 1948 marked the official movement for Ghanaian independence. Led by Kwame Nkrumah, founder of the Convention People’s Party, strikes and nonviolent protests were implemented to accomplish Ghanaian independence. Many Ghanaians sought a less oppressive life with an abundance of opportunities that which they thought would become realized through the implementation of their own form of government. The Ghanaians, like so many other colonized people, could have never predicted the government they were fighting so willfully for would ultimately be that of a dictatorship and possess many similar oppressive interests very closely tied with those of the former colonial powers. One can derive from Ghana’s history that independence, or a popular historical event with much political weight did not necessarily mean a positive change for the majority of the people. It is important to consider that the less known acts and relations amongst the people of Ghana may have ultimately led to the fall of the dictatorship and a pathway to a better quality of life. Taking a step back, it is known that by 1957, Ghana had become independent and had a growing economy rich in diamonds, manganese, gold, and cocoa. Projects that built modern roads and the Volta Dam were also put into play. African unity and the formation of an African federal government were also very important to Nkrumah. Unfortunately, with too much emphasis on foreign affairs and less emphasis on the situation in Ghana, the economy declined, causing the country to fall victim to its foreign loans (Behrent).
In February of 1966, after Nkrumah publicly announced himself a dictator, the Ghanaian army took control of Accra, depleting the bit of diplomacy left in the country. Beneath
Cited: Behrent, Megan. “Ama Ata Aidoo: Independence and Disillusionment in Postcolonial Ghana” Post Colonial Web. Brown University, 14 March 2002. Web. 4 May 2013. “The Birth of Ghana and the Emergence of a Dictatorship”.Needham Public Schools. Web. 4 May 2013.