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56 Cards in this Set
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Ghana
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Officially Republic of (republic 2005 est. pop. 21,030,000), 92,099 sq mi (238,536 sq km), W Africa, on the Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean. The capital and largest city is Accra.
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The capital and largest city is Accra.
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Gold Coast
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In pre-colonial times the area of present-day Ghana comprised a number of independent kingdoms, including Gonja and Dagomba in the north, Ashanti in the interior, and the Fanti states along the coast.
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Presently comprised of ancient West African Kingdoms
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Elmina
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In 1482 the first European fort was established by the Portuguese here.
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Slave station on Gold Coast
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Gold and slaves
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Trade was begun, and intense competition developed among many European nations for trading advantages.
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Triangle trade
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Decline of slave trade
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With the decline of the slave trade in the 19th cent., only the British, Danes, and Dutch still maintained forts on the Gold Coast.
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19th century decline
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Ashanti expansion
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The Danes (1850) and Dutch (1872) withdrew in the face of expansionist activities by the Ashanti kingdom; the British, however, remained and allied themselves with the Fanti states against Ashanti.
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1850, 1872 expansion led to decline of these European settlement
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1874
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In 1874 the British defeated Ashanti and organized the coastal region as the colony of the Gold Coast.
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Formed after Ashanti defeated
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1896
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There was fighting between British and Ashanti again in 1896, and in 1901 the British made the kingdom a colony.
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1901
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In the same year the Northern Territories, a region north of Ashanti, were declared a British protectorate.
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1918
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After World War I part of the German colony of Togoland was mandated to the British, who linked it administratively with the Gold Coast colony.
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Germany colony annexed
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1945
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In the Gold Coast, nationalist activity, which began in the interwar period, intensified after World War II. Kwame Nkrumah of the Convention People's Party (CPP) emerged as the leading nationalist figure.
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CPP leader
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1951
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Britain granted a new constitution, which had been drawn up by Africans, and general elections were held.
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First constitution
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CPP
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won overwhelmingly and Nkrumah became premier.
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First premier
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1957/03/06
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The state of Ghana, named after the medieval W African empire, became an independent country within the Commonwealth of Nations.
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independence
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1957/03/07
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At the same time the people of British Togoland chose to become part of Ghana.
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Briish Togoland joined
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1960
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Nkrumah transformed Ghana into a republic, with himself as president for life.
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First republic
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1964
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By referendum, all opposition parties were outlawed, and many critics of the government were subsequently imprisoned.
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Outlawing of opposition parties
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Pan-africa
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Nkrumah followed an anti-colonial, pan-African policy and grew increasingly less friendly to the West.
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External opposition to Nkrumah
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1966
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Falling cocoa prices and poorly financed large development projects led to chaotic economic conditions, and Nkrumah was overthrown by a military-police coup.
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Coup
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NLC
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A National Liberation Council (NLC) was set up to rule until the restoration of civilian government.
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First military council
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1969
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Relations with the Western powers improved, and in 1969 the NLC transferred power to the government of K. A. Busia, who had been elected under a new constitution.
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Busia
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1972
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Busia's government was undermined by labor problems, an unpopular currency devaluation, and serious inflation, and in 1972 it too was overthrown in a bloodless coup led by Col. I. K. Acheampong.
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Acheampong in
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NRC
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The constitution was suspended and a National Redemption Council (NRC) set up to govern; it pursued a more neutralist course in foreign affairs and concentrated on developing Ghana's economy.
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Neutralist course
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Nationalization of Mining
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The country's large foreign debt was brought under control; imports were curtailed; and the state took controlling interests in foreign-owned mining and timber firms.
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1978 governmnt
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However, Acheampong was forced out of office by a group of military officers.
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Acheampong out
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1978 Economic problems
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Low wages and high unemployment led to a series of strikes that further disrupted the economy. Formerly one of the most prosperous nations in W Africa, Ghana's economy was in severe decline.
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labor strife
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1979 Political parties
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The government lifted a ban but denied potential leaders the right to participate.
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1979 coup
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Flight Lt. J. J. Rawlings overthrew the government and purged the country of opposition, then turned the government over to an elected president, Dr. Hilla Limann.
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Dr Hila Limann
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1979 reaction to coup
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The international community disapproved of Rawlings's tactics, and Nigeria cut Ghana's crude oil supply.
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1979 Popular discontent
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Poor economic conditions, restrictions on the press, and allegations of corruption led to popular discontent.
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1981
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Rawlings seized power again in 1981 and tightened his political control throughout the 1980s.
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1980s IMF
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He enlisted economic help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, and in the late 1980s the economy began to show significant growth.
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Rawlings
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1992
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The government promulgated a new constitution and lifted the ban on opposition parties.
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ban on opposition lifted
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Presidential elections
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Later that year, Rawlings easily won a disputed presidential election.
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1994
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Several thousand people were killed and many more displaced in ethnic fighting in northern Ghana.
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1996
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Elections, which were generally termed fair, Rawlings was returned to power.
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Recovery
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Ghana's economic recovery continued into the late 1990s.
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Term limits
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Under the constitution, Rawlings could not run for reelection in 2000.
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2000 election
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In the December elections, the candidate of the opposition New Patriotic party, John Agyekum Kufuor, was elected president; the party also won a near majority in the parliament.
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Kufuor
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NDC
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The governing National Democratic Congress was hurt by the declining economy.
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2004 election
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Kufuor oversaw improvement in the economy, although poverty remained widespread in Ghana, and in Dec., 2004, he won reelection and his New Patriotic party secured a majority in the parliament.
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1992 Constitution
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Ghana is governed under the constitution of 1992.
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USA Model of Exec branch
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The executive branch is headed by a president, who serves as both head of state and head of government.
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Unicameral
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The unicameral legislature consists of a 230-seat Parliament.
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Popular election
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Both the president and the legislature are popularly elected for four-year terms; the president's tenure is limited to two terms.
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10
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Administratively, the country is divided into ten regions.
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Agriculture
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Ghana's economy is predominantly agricultural, with 60% of the population engaged in subsistence agriculture.
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Cash crops
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The biggest cash crop is cocoa. Rice, coffee, cassava, peanuts, corn, shea nuts, and bananas are also widely grown.
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Impediments to development of lumber industry
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Fishing and lumbering are important, although inadequate roads and facilities have hindered the development of the timber industry.
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Gold
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Minerals (most importantly gold, but also industrial diamonds, bauxite, and manganese) are found in the north, south, and coastal regions.
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Oil
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There is some offshore petroleum exploitation, and exploration for additional reserves identified significant deposits in 2007.
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Industries
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The major industries in Ghana are mining, lumbering, light manufacturing, aluminum smelting, cocoa and other food processing, and shipbuilding.
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Exports
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Gold and other minerals, cocoa, timber, and tuna.
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Imports
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Imports include capital equipment, petroleum, and foodstuffs.
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Major trade partners
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The Netherlands, Nigeria, Great Britain, the United States, and China are Ghana's major trade partners.
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Road system
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The country has a large but poorly maintained road system; rail lines connect the major centers in the South.
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