Ghana
From ‘Gold Coast’ to ‘Ghana’
The British colony of the Gold Coast became the first independent state in Africa in 1957,
under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah.
The region in which the British established the Gold Coast colony was prosperous, with
farming and gold mining giving rise to highly profitable trade with Europe and North America.
Because of its wealth, particularly its gold, the region became very attractive to European
colonists. After 3 wars, the British finally established the Gold Coast colony in 1901.
African Nationalism
Colonial rule was very harsh. African people were deprived of their independence and ruled by
white colonial officials.
The nationalistic vision of independence from foreign rule became an inspiration to African
intellectuals in the 20th century. Under their leadership, African nationalism became a powerful
force, uniting Africans against colonial rule to fight for independence for their countries. It also
encouraged Africans to see themselves not as conquered people, but as people who were proudly
African.
Educated elites in Africa
During the colonial period, Christian missionaries established schools and colleges and colonial
governments also provided schools, though few students went further than primary education.
The Gold Coast was Britain’s richest colony and had the most schools of the highest quality in
West Africa. Young African intellectuals who studied abroad, as Nkrumah did, were the men who
would later return home to establish and lead their countries to independence.
Socialism and African nationalism
Many Africans who studied in America were strongly influenced by the Pan-Africanist ideology
of African American thinkers such as Marcus Garvey. Others went to Europe to study and they
came across socialism and the ideas of Karl Marx.
African nationalists identified with the socialist idea that private ownership should be replaced
by state ownership of all wealth. They were also attracted to Marxist criticism of European
colonialism as many other socials condemned colonialism.
, The USSR provided many African nationalists an example of a communist state. It also gave
political strategies that the Africans could use in their fight for freedom.
Trade Unions in colonial Africa
Most colonial economies developed an industrial and agricultural foundation. Employment
opportunities in industry encouraged people to leave the countryside for the towns to look for
work in factories/construction projects/mines/harbours/railways.
An African working class came into being, open to new political ideas, including
trade unionism.
The Gold Coast, as the richest colonial economy in West Africa, was at the forefront of this
development. In the 1940s, proper trade unions were organised.
In 1941, the British colonial government allowed them to be registered, but they were forbidden to
pressurise employers for higher salaries and better working conditions.
In 1945, the Gold Coast Trade Union Congress was formed to unite the 14 registered unions
and set up a central coordinating body for them all. Before long, the unions’ struggle for better
working conditions merged with the wider struggle for national independence.
Trade unions would become an important player in the independence movement.
The cocoa farmers’ strike and consumer boycott of 1937
When the British established the Gold Coast colony, the indigenous farmers gradually lost most
of their land. The British set up large cocoa farms and trading companies, and cocoa soon
became one of the largest and most profitable crops in the whole British Empire.
Those farmers who managed to hold on to their farms were exploited by British companies as they
bought their cocoa crops at very low prices and then sold the cocoa in overseas markets at high
prices.
Before British colonisation, African farmers in the Gold Coast had easily been able to grow
enough food to feed their families.
In the colonial period, the Gold Coast became a mono-economy, totally dependent on the cocoa
crop. Other food items that the inhabitants needed had to be imported.
In 1937, African cocoa farmers took action to try to break the British stranglehold over the
cocoa-based economy. They refused to sell cocoa at low prices and started to boycott goods
imported from Britain.
From ‘Gold Coast’ to ‘Ghana’
The British colony of the Gold Coast became the first independent state in Africa in 1957,
under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah.
The region in which the British established the Gold Coast colony was prosperous, with
farming and gold mining giving rise to highly profitable trade with Europe and North America.
Because of its wealth, particularly its gold, the region became very attractive to European
colonists. After 3 wars, the British finally established the Gold Coast colony in 1901.
African Nationalism
Colonial rule was very harsh. African people were deprived of their independence and ruled by
white colonial officials.
The nationalistic vision of independence from foreign rule became an inspiration to African
intellectuals in the 20th century. Under their leadership, African nationalism became a powerful
force, uniting Africans against colonial rule to fight for independence for their countries. It also
encouraged Africans to see themselves not as conquered people, but as people who were proudly
African.
Educated elites in Africa
During the colonial period, Christian missionaries established schools and colleges and colonial
governments also provided schools, though few students went further than primary education.
The Gold Coast was Britain’s richest colony and had the most schools of the highest quality in
West Africa. Young African intellectuals who studied abroad, as Nkrumah did, were the men who
would later return home to establish and lead their countries to independence.
Socialism and African nationalism
Many Africans who studied in America were strongly influenced by the Pan-Africanist ideology
of African American thinkers such as Marcus Garvey. Others went to Europe to study and they
came across socialism and the ideas of Karl Marx.
African nationalists identified with the socialist idea that private ownership should be replaced
by state ownership of all wealth. They were also attracted to Marxist criticism of European
colonialism as many other socials condemned colonialism.
, The USSR provided many African nationalists an example of a communist state. It also gave
political strategies that the Africans could use in their fight for freedom.
Trade Unions in colonial Africa
Most colonial economies developed an industrial and agricultural foundation. Employment
opportunities in industry encouraged people to leave the countryside for the towns to look for
work in factories/construction projects/mines/harbours/railways.
An African working class came into being, open to new political ideas, including
trade unionism.
The Gold Coast, as the richest colonial economy in West Africa, was at the forefront of this
development. In the 1940s, proper trade unions were organised.
In 1941, the British colonial government allowed them to be registered, but they were forbidden to
pressurise employers for higher salaries and better working conditions.
In 1945, the Gold Coast Trade Union Congress was formed to unite the 14 registered unions
and set up a central coordinating body for them all. Before long, the unions’ struggle for better
working conditions merged with the wider struggle for national independence.
Trade unions would become an important player in the independence movement.
The cocoa farmers’ strike and consumer boycott of 1937
When the British established the Gold Coast colony, the indigenous farmers gradually lost most
of their land. The British set up large cocoa farms and trading companies, and cocoa soon
became one of the largest and most profitable crops in the whole British Empire.
Those farmers who managed to hold on to their farms were exploited by British companies as they
bought their cocoa crops at very low prices and then sold the cocoa in overseas markets at high
prices.
Before British colonisation, African farmers in the Gold Coast had easily been able to grow
enough food to feed their families.
In the colonial period, the Gold Coast became a mono-economy, totally dependent on the cocoa
crop. Other food items that the inhabitants needed had to be imported.
In 1937, African cocoa farmers took action to try to break the British stranglehold over the
cocoa-based economy. They refused to sell cocoa at low prices and started to boycott goods
imported from Britain.
