History of Ghana in Timeline
Ghana, a West African nation, borders the Gulf of Guinea and Atlantic Ocean to the south, Ivory Coast to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, and Togo to the east. Its 239,567 km2 area encompasses diverse ecosystems. With approximately 35 million people, it's West Africa's second most populous country. Accra is the capital and largest city, followed by Kumasi, Tamale, and Sekondi-Takoradi. Historically significant, Ghana, led by Kwame Nkrumah, was the first sub-Saharan African colony to gain independence in 1957.
1900: War of the Golden Stool
In 1900, the War of the Golden Stool concluded, resulting in the Ashanti Empire's defeat by the British, marking a significant turning point in the Anglo-Ashanti wars and solidifying British control.
1911: Ethiopia Unbound Publication
J. E. Casely Hayford published his acclaimed novel, "Ethiopia Unbound," in 1911.
1946: Gold Coast Legislative Election
The 1946 Gold Coast legislative election took place, influencing the subsequent call for self-government.
1947: Call for Self-Government
In 1947, the United Gold Coast Convention, led by "The Big Six," called for "self-government within the shortest possible time."
1948: Gold Coast Film Unit Established
The Gold Coast Film Unit was established in 1948 within the Information Services Department.
1949: Formation of Convention People's Party
Kwame Nkrumah formed the Convention People's Party in 1949, advocating for "self-government now."
1951: Nkrumah's Election and Release
In 1951, Kwame Nkrumah was elected to Parliament and released from prison following his arrest for initiating the "positive action" campaign.
1952: Nkrumah as Prime Minister
Kwame Nkrumah became the Prime Minister of the Gold Coast in 1952 and implemented a policy of Africanization.
1954: Ghana's Commonwealth Games Debut
Ghana first participated in the Commonwealth Games in 1954.
March 6, 1957: Ghana's Unification and Independence
At midnight on March 6, 1957, the Gold Coast, Ashanti, the Northern Territories, and British Togoland were unified as independent Ghana within the British Commonwealth.
March 1957: Ghana's Sovereignty
In March 1957, Ghana achieved sovereignty, marking its independence from colonial rule and becoming the first Sub-Saharan African colony to do so.
1957: Ghana's Independence
In 1957, Ghana became the first Sub-Saharan African colony to gain independence from British rule.
1957: Nkrumah's Leadership
Kwame Nkrumah led Ghana from 1957 to 1966 as its first prime minister and president.
1957: Ghana Armed Forces Formation
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) was established in 1957 with a focus on expansion.
July 1960: Ghana Declared a Republic
On July 1, 1960, following a referendum and presidential election, Ghana was declared a republic, with Kwame Nkrumah as its first president.
1961: GAF Expansion
The GAF expanded in 1961 with the establishment of the 4th and 5th Battalions.
1963: Parachute Unit Formation
A parachute airborne unit was formed within the GAF in 1963, later becoming the 6th Battalion.
1964: Ghana Becomes a One-Party State
In 1964, Ghana became a one-party state with Kwame Nkrumah as president for life.
1964: GAF Expansion Continues
The 6th Battalion of the GAF was established in 1964.
1965: Construction of Akosombo Dam
The Akosombo Dam, a major hydroelectric dam on the Volta River, was constructed in 1965 to provide hydropower to Ghana.
1965: Akosombo Dam Completion
The Akosombo Dam, creating Lake Volta, was completed in 1965.
February 1966: Overthrow of Nkrumah's Government
In February 1966, Kwame Nkrumah's government was overthrown in a coup while he was abroad.
1966: End of Nkrumah's Rule
Kwame Nkrumah's rule as Ghana's leader ended in 1966.
1966: Alternating Governments and Rawlings' Rise
Starting in 1966, Ghana experienced a series of alternating military and civilian governments, culminating in Jerry John Rawlings' ascent to power in 1981.
1968: The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born Publication
Ayi Kwei Armah's internationally recognized novel, "The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born," was published in 1968.
1969: Deportation of Aliens and Illegal Immigrants
In 1969, under Prime Minister Kofi Abrefa Busia's "Ghana Aliens Compliance Order", over 3,000,000 aliens and illegal immigrants, representing 20% of the population, were deported within three months.
1970: Fertility Rate
In 1970, Ghana's fertility rate was reported as 6.95 live births per woman.
1981: Rawlings and the PNDC
In 1981, Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings and the Provisional National Defence Council came to power in Ghana.
1986: Ghana Misses Commonwealth Games
Ghana did not participate in the 1986 Commonwealth Games.
1992: Restoration of Multi-Party System
A new constitution restoring multi-party politics was promulgated in 1992, with Rawlings being elected president.
1992: Press Freedoms Restored
Ghana's 1992 Constitution guaranteed freedom of the press and media independence, marking a significant step towards greater democratic freedoms.
1992: Launch of Cellular Mobile Network
In 1992, Ghana launched its first cellular mobile network, marking a significant step in the country's technological advancement.
1992: Transition to Civilian Rule
Presidential and parliamentary elections held in late 1992 paved the way for the Fourth Republic of Ghana.
January 1993: Fourth Republic of Ghana
In January 1993, the Fourth Republic of Ghana was established after the military government transitioned to civilian rule following elections in late 1992.
1993: Establishment of Stable Government
Since 1993, Ghana has maintained one of the freest and most stable governments on the African continent.
1994: Tribal War in Northern Ghana
In 1994, a tribal war in Northern Ghana resulted in significant casualties and displacement.
1996: Rawlings' Re-election
Rawlings was re-elected president in the 1996 general election.
2000: Kufuor's Election and Media Relations
Following Kufuor's election in 2000, the tension between the government and private media decreased, further solidifying press freedom in Ghana.
2000: Fertility Rate
Ghana's fertility rate was 3.99 in 2000.
2000: General Election
The 2000 general election in Ghana resulted in John Kufuor becoming President.
January 2001: John Kufuor's Presidency
In January 2001, John Kufuor of the New Patriotic Party became president of Ghana. This marked the first peaceful transfer of power between two legitimately elected leaders in the Fourth Republic.
2004: Kufuor's Re-election
John Kufuor was re-elected as president of Ghana in 2004, serving his second term.
2005: French Language in Ghana
Since 2005, Ghana has been an associate member of the Organisation internationale de la Francophonie, with French being widely taught in schools and used in commerce and international economic exchanges. Over 350,000 Ghanaian children studied French in schools that year.
2006: Ghana in FIFA World Cup
Ghana participated in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, marking their first appearance in the tournament.
2007: Discovery of Jubilee Oil Field
The Jubilee Oil Field, containing up to 3 billion barrels of sweet crude oil, was discovered in 2007, significantly boosting Ghana's oil reserves.
2008: General Election
The 2008 general election saw John Atta Mills of the National Democratic Congress defeat Nana Akufo-Addo.
2009: World Economic Forum Ranking
In 2009, Ghana's ranking in the World Economic Forum's list of favorite tourist destinations was two places lower than its 2010 ranking.
2009: Tail of the Blue Bird Publication
Nii Ayikwei Parkes gained international recognition with the publication of his book "Tail of the Blue Bird" in 2009.
September 2010: Ghana-China Relations
In September 2010, President John Atta Mills visited China to commemorate 50 years of diplomatic ties.
2010: Fertility Rate Decline
By 2010, the fertility rate in Ghana decreased to 3.28, with 2.78 in urban areas and 3.94 in rural areas.
2010: Ghana in FIFA World Cup
Ghana competed in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, their second consecutive appearance.
2010: Healthcare Expenditure and Resources
In 2010, Ghana allocated 5.2% of its GDP to healthcare, with 0.1 physicians per 1,000 people.
2010: Immigrant Population in Ghana
In 2010, Ghana's immigrant population, primarily from Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Togo, and Mali, comprised 14.6% (3.1 million) of the total population.
2010: World Economic Forum Ranking
In 2010, the World Economic Forum ranked Ghana 108th out of 139 countries as a favorite tourist destination.
2010: Literacy Rate and Education in Ghana
In 2010, the literacy rate for 15-24 year olds in Ghana was 81%, with 82% for males and 80% for females, with over 95% of children attending school.
2010: Ghana's Ethnic Groups
The 2010 census revealed the largest ethnic groups in Ghana as Akan (47.3%), Mole-Dagbani (16.6%), Ewe (13.9%), Ga-Dangme (7.4%), Gurma (5.7%), and Guan (3.7%).
November 2011: China's Visit to Ghana
In November 2011, Zhou Tienong, vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress of China, visited Ghana.
2011: Tourism in Ghana
In 2011, Ghana saw 1,087,000 tourists visiting its various attractions, including waterfalls, beaches, caves, mountains, rivers, lakes, forts, castles, and World Heritage Sites.
2011: Forbes Magazine Ranking
In 2011, Forbes magazine ranked Ghana as the 11th friendliest country globally, based on a 2010 traveler survey.
2011: Decline in Drug Seizures in Ghana
Despite previous successes in intercepting drug shipments, Ghana saw a decline in drug seizures in 2011 as cartels adopted new methods to evade authorities.
2011: Hospital Bed Availability
As of 2011, Ghana had 0.9 hospital beds per 1,000 people.
July 2012: John Mahama's Succession
Following the death of President John Atta Mills, Vice President John Mahama succeeded him on July 24, 2012.
2012: Poverty Disparity Between Rural and Urban Dwellers
Between 2012 and 2013, poverty rates in Ghana were significantly higher in rural areas (38%) compared to urban areas (11%).
2012: Ozwald Boateng's African Print Collection
Ghanaian-British designer Ozwald Boateng showcased African print suits in his 2012 collection, further popularizing the style globally.
2012: Chair of Comsats
In 2012, Ghana was elected to chair the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (Comsats).
2012: Ghana's Political Stability
In 2012, Ghana was ranked seventh in the Ibrahim Index of African Governance and fifth in the Fragile States Index, demonstrating its relatively high political stability and good governance.
2012: Ghana's Stability and Governance Ranking
In 2012, Ghana was ranked the 67th least fragile state globally, 5th least fragile in Africa, and 64th least corrupt globally. It also ranked 7th in Africa on the Ibrahim Index of African Governance.
2012: National Health Insurance Scheme Coverage
In 2012, over 12 million Ghanaians were covered under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
2012: Ghana Stock Exchange Performance
In 2012, the Ghana Stock Exchange was the fifth largest in Africa and third largest in sub-Saharan Africa, with a market capitalization of GH¢ 57.2 billion (CN¥180.4 billion).
2012: HIV/AIDS Prevalence
In 2012, the estimated HIV/AIDS prevalence among adults aged 15-49 in Ghana was 1.40%.
2012: Islamic Denominations in Ghana
A 2012 Pew Research report indicated that within Ghana's Muslim population, 51% follow Sunni Islam, 16% belong to the Ahmadiyya movement, and 8% identify with Shia Islam, with the rest being non-denominational.
2013: UN Chief Highlights West Africa's Drug Trafficking Vulnerability
In 2013, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime chief stated that West Africa, including Ghana, is a key transshipment point for drug cartels moving narcotics from South America to Europe due to weak border control.
2013: Ghana Stock Exchange Performance
The Ghana Stock Exchange was the second-best performing stock exchange in sub-Saharan Africa in 2013.
2013: Infant Mortality Rate
In 2013, the infant mortality rate in Ghana was 39 per 1,000 live births.
2013: Poverty Disparity Between Rural and Urban Dwellers
Between 2012 and 2013, there was a significant difference in poverty rates in rural (38%) and urban (11%) areas of Ghana
2013: Bank of Ghana Circulates Chinese Renminbi
In 2013, the Bank of Ghana began circulating the Chinese yuan renminbi alongside the Ghanaian cedi as a second national trade currency.
2013: Meeting with Iran
In 2013, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad met with Ghana's President John Mahama to discuss the Non-Aligned Movement and bilateral relations.
2013: Deportation of Illegal Miners
In 2013, Ghana conducted a mass deportation of illegal miners, including over 4,000 Chinese nationals.
2013: Survey Reveals Ghanaian Views on Homosexuality
A 2013 Pew Research Center survey indicated that 96% of Ghanaians believe homosexuality should not be accepted by society.
2014: Start of Electric Car Manufacturing in Ghana
Ghana began manufacturing urban electric cars in 2014, adding to its growing primary manufacturing economy and expanding its exports beyond traditional commodities.
2014: Ghana in FIFA World Cup
Ghana participated in their third consecutive FIFA World Cup in 2014.
2015: Electricity Shortages and "Dumsor" Crisis
Ghana experienced significant electricity shortages, known as "dumsor," in 2015 and 2016.
2015: Nationally Determined Contribution
In 2015, Ghana produced its "Intended Nationally Determined Contribution" document.
2015: Launch of Security Satellite
In 2015, the Ghana Space Science and Technology Centre (GSSTC) and Ghana Space Agency (GhsA) launched a national security observational satellite into orbit.
2016: Akufo-Addo's Victory
Nana Akufo-Addo won the 2016 general election, defeating incumbent John Mahama.
2016: Electricity Shortages and "Dumsor" Crisis
The "dumsor" crisis, marked by persistent and unpredictable power outages, continued to affect Ghana in 2016.
2016: General Election
Nana Akufo-Addo won the 2016 general election, becoming president.
2016: Life Expectancy Estimates
In 2016, the WHO estimated life expectancy in Ghana at 62 years for men and 64 years for women.
2016: Paris Climate Agreement
Ghana signed the Paris Climate Agreement in 2016.
January 2017: Akufo-Addo's Presidency
Nana Akufo-Addo became president of Ghana on January 7, 2017, after winning the general election.
September 2017: Free Senior High School Education
In September 2017, the Ghanaian government introduced free senior high school education, eliminating subsidies and making secondary education accessible to all.
2017: Political Violence in Ghana
Despite being considered relatively peaceful, Ghana experienced an upward trend in politically motivated violence in 2017.
2017: Free Secondary School Initiative Launched
Ghana launched a free secondary school initiative in 2017, aiming to improve access to education.
2017: Dancing Pallbearers Featured on BBC
The Nana Otafrija Pallbearing Services, known as the Dancing Pallbearers, were featured in a BBC story in 2017, which later contributed to their internet fame during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2017: Fertility Rate Decline
The fertility rate in Ghana further declined to 3.93 live births per woman in 2017.
2018: Free Senior High School Education
By the 2017/2018 academic year, the free senior high school policy, initiated in September 2017, was fully implemented across Ghana.
2018: Ghana's Ranking in Corruption Perceptions Index
In 2018, Ghana ranked 78th out of 180 countries in Transparency International's Corruption Perceptions Index, with a score of 41, indicating perceived levels of public sector corruption.
2018: Forest Landscape Integrity Index
In 2018, Ghana scored 4.53/10 on the Forest Landscape Integrity Index, ranking 112th globally.
2018: Ghana's Demographics
In 2018, about 29% of Ghana's population was under 15, while 57.8% was between 15 and 64.
2019: Electricity Surplus Achieved
By 2019, Ghana had overcome the "dumsor" crisis and achieved an electricity surplus.
2019: Ghana Becomes Africa's Largest Gold Producer
In 2019, Ghana became the largest gold producer in Africa, surpassing South Africa for the first time, with an output of approximately 140 tonnes.
2020: Akufo-Addo's Re-election
Nana Akufo-Addo was re-elected as president in a closely contested election in 2020.
2020: Akufo-Addo's Second Victory
Nana Akufo-Addo won the 2020 election, which was subsequently challenged in the Supreme Court by John Mahama.
2020: Ghana Vision 2020: Towards Developed Nation Status
Ghana's "Vision 2020" economic plan aims to achieve developed nation status between 2020 and 2029, and newly industrialized status between 2030 and 2039.
2020: WHO Recognition of Ghana's Regulatory System
In 2020, the WHO recognized Ghana's national medicines regulatory system, classifying it at "maturity level 3", the second highest of four tiers.
2020: Lowest Economic Growth Rate in 37 Years
Ghana experienced its lowest economic growth rate in 37 years in 2020.
June 2021: Green Ghana Day
On June 11, 2021, Ghana launched Green Ghana Day, an initiative to plant five million trees to combat deforestation and preserve rainforest cover.
2021: Religious Demographics of Ghana
According to the 2021 census, Christianity is the dominant religion in Ghana, with 71.3% adherence, followed by Islam at 20%.
2021: Ghana Plans to Issue Social and Green Bonds
In Autumn 2021, Ghana announced plans to issue social and green bonds, becoming the first African country to do so. The funds would be used to refinance debt for social and environmental projects and support programs like the free secondary school initiative.
2022: Ghana in FIFA World Cup
Ghana qualified for their fourth FIFA World Cup appearance in 2022.
2023: V-Dem Democracy Indices
According to 2023 V-Dem Democracy indices, Ghana ranked 67th in electoral democracy worldwide and 10th in Africa.
2024: Ghana's Population
As of 2024, Ghana's population reached 34,581,288, contributing 0.42% to the global population, with a median age of 21.
2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking
In 2024, Ghana was ranked 99th in the Global Innovation Index.
2024: Global Peace Index Ranking
In 2024, Ghana was ranked the 55th most peaceful country in the world.
2024: Life Expectancy in Ghana
In 2024, the life expectancy in Ghana was 69 years for females and 64 years for males.
2029: Target Year for Developed Nation Status
Ghana aims to become the first African country to achieve developed nation status by 2029, as envisioned in its "Vision 2020" plan.
2030: Transition to Newly Industrialized Country
Ghana's "Vision 2020" plan outlines its goal to become a newly industrialized country between 2030 and 2039.
2039: Target Year for Newly Industrialized Country Status
Ghana aims to achieve newly industrialized country status by 2039 as part of its long-term economic development vision.