[88][76], With the north under British control, the three territories of the Gold Coast—the Colony (the coastal regions), Asante, and the Northern Territories—became, for all practical purposes, a single political unit, or crown colony, known as "the dependency" or simply as the Gold Coast. Our national distribution to modern trade, horecas and traditional trade is very strong. It extends approximately from Axim, Ghana, or nearby Cape Three Points, in the west to the Volta River in the east and is so called because it was an important source of gold. [196][164], Prior to the July 1956 general elections in the Gold Coast, a plebiscite was conducted under United Nations (UN) auspices to decide the future disposition of British Togoland and French Togoland. For the latest Covid-19 information for travellers including health advice, the easing of restrictions and tourism activities you can experience during this time, click here.. For information on tourism business support including industry updates, relief assistance and resources, click here. Two major factors laid the foundations of British rule and the eventual establishment of a colony on the Gold Coast: British reaction to the Asante wars and the resulting instability and disruption of trade, and Britain's increasing preoccupation with the suppression and elimination of the slave trade. [112] In 1935 the Native Authorities Ordinance combined the central colonial government and the local authorities into a single governing system. Between 1957 and 1981, there were six attempted coups in the country, five of which were successful. [177] This majority consisted primarily of ex-servicemen, literate persons who had some primary schooling, journalists, and elementary school teachers, all of whom had developed a taste for populist conceptions of democracy. McLaughlin & Owusu-Ansah (1994), "Early Manifestations of Nationalism". The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957. [120] Traditional techniques of panning and shaft mining, however, yielded only limited output.
Gold Coast provided a large chunk of gold in the 1800s and teal in the Kimberley mine in South Africa was discovered. [97][96], The structure of local government had its roots in traditional patterns of government. They also demanded that, given their education, the colonial administration should respect them and accord them positions of responsibility. [51], Maclean's exercise of limited judicial power on the coast was so effective that a parliamentary committee recommended that the British government permanently administer its settlements and negotiate treaties with the coastal chiefs to define Britain's relations with them. The Gold Coast was a British Crown Colony on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa from 1821 to its independence as part of the nation of Ghana in 1957. He received further training in the United States at Lincoln University and at the University of Pennsylvania. There was, however, vocal opposition to the incorporation from some of the Ewe in southern British Togoland. These were the Gold Coast itself, Ashanti, the Northern Territories Protectorate and the British Togoland trust territory. [146], Agitation for more adequate representation continued. There veterans, along with discontented urban elements, formed a nucleus of malcontents ripe for disruptive action. [139] The development of national consciousness accelerated quickly after World War II, when, in addition to ex-servicemen, a substantial group of urban African workers and traders emerged to lend mass support to the aspirations of a small educated minority. In 1896 the British dispatched another expedition that occupied Kumasi and forced Asante to become a protectorate of the British Crown. [48]Although his formal jurisdiction was limited, Maclean's achievements were substantial; for example, he arranged a peace treaty with Asante in 1831. His program has been described as the most ambitious ever proposed in West Africa up to that time. [160] For these political leaders, traditional governance, exercised largely via indirect rule, was identified with colonial interests and the past. [60][61][33], In 1872 British influence over the Gold Coast increased further when Britain purchased the Dutch Gold Coast. [115] For example, the Sekondi-Tarkwa railroad, begun in 1898, was extended until it connected most of the important commercial centres of the south, and by 1937, there were 9,700 kilometres of roads. [64] Later attempts to negotiate a settlement with the British were rejected by the commander of their forces, Major General Sir Garnet Wolseley.
[14] They purchased and incorporated the Danish Gold Coast in 1850 and the Dutch Gold Coast, including Fort Elmina, in 1872. [26] They also built Western-style hospitals and schools to provide modern amenities to the people of the empire. [2] The Swedish Gold Coast settlements date to 1650.
In this period, European nations began to explore and colonize the Americas. [32][33], During most of the 19th century, Asante, the most powerful state of the Akan interior, sought to expand its rule and to promote and protect its trade. [200][201], Coordinates: 5°33′00″N 0°13′00″W / 5.5500°N 0.2167°W / 5.5500; -0.2167, Former British colony from 1867 until 1957, now Ghana, Forts of the former European colonial powers on the, Economic and social development in the British colony, CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (. Gold Coast region territorial entities were: Ghana is the legal name for the region loosely referred to as the Gold Coast comprising the following four separate parts, which immediately before independence had distinct constitutional positions:[2], The United Kingdom government was responsible for shepherding through the Ghana Independence Act 1957 with Charles Arden-Clarke Lord Listowel explained that the name was chosen "in accordance with the wishes of the Gold Coastian population".[3]. [18], During the First Anglo-Ashanti War (1822–24), the two groups fought because of a disagreement over an Ashanti chief and slavery. [94] The inclusion of Africans from Asante and the Northern Territories did not take place until much later. [146], With elected members in a decisive majority, Ghana had reached a level of political maturity unequaled anywhere in colonial Africa. A Gold Coast Regiment soldier shows off his muscles to a U.S. soldier, Ghana, June 1943. [2] In 1721 the Dutch purchased it. [20] From 1895–96 the British and Ashanti fought in the Fourth and final Ashanti War, where the Ashanti fought for and lost their independence. These were the Gold Coast itself, Ashanti, the Northern Territories Protectorate and the British Togoland trust territory. Councils were given specific responsibilities over disputed elections and the unseating of chiefs; the procedure for the election of chiefs was set forth; and judicial powers were defined and delegated. We reach the remotest parts of Ghana with very efficient national … [185][164], The governor, Sir Charles Arden-Clarke, released Nkrumah and invited him to form a government as "leader of government business", a position similar to that of prime minister. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. [11], The Royal Trading Company was established by the Crown in 1752 to lead its trading in Africa. Contact Us The delegation landed in Cape Coast, and the entire region became known as the Portuguese Gold Coast.
[103] Before the effective colonisation of these territories, the intention of the British was to use both force and agreements to control chiefs in Asante and the north. Gold Coast. Despite being among the fastest-growing economies in the world, Ghana still experiences problems associated with developing economies such as corruption, inadequate healthcare facilities, underdeveloped infrastructure, unemployment, poverty, and inflation. [49] Maclean also supervised the coastal people by holding regular court in Cape Coast, where he sentenced and punished those found guilty of disturbing the peace. The Dutch and British also entered the slave trade, at first supplying markets in the Caribbean and on the Caribbean coast of South America. ... Africa had just been given its first taste of the war to come. This former region is now known as the country of Ghana.
McLaughlin & Owusu-Ansah (1994), "Economic and Social Development". Today, the country exports over 2 billion dollars of gold annually. [53] Hill proceeded to define the conditions and responsibilities of his jurisdiction over the protected areas. They used these colonies to exploit the resources rather than to settle large numbers of subjects.
The Danes arrived in 1663 and later seized the Swedish territory and incorporated it into the Danish Gold Coast.
[42] In 1824 MacCarthy was killed and most of his force was wiped out in a battle with Asante forces. In 1948 the country opened its first centre of higher learning, the University College.[135][117]. [195] New elections were held in July 1956. [4] In 1483, the Portuguese came to the continent for increased trade. [70] The annexation was made with misgivings and recriminations on both sides. Post-Independence Gold Coast. [37][33] The assets of the African Company of Merchants consisted primarily of nine trading posts or factories: Fort William, Fort James, Fort Sekondi, Fort Winneba, Fort Apollonia, Fort Tantumquery, Fort Metal Cross, Fort Komenda, and Cape Coast Castle, the last of which was the administrative centre. This opposition, however, proved ineffective in the face of continuing and growing popular support for a single over-riding concept—independence at an early date.
MacCarthy's encouragement of coastal opposition to Asante and the subsequent 1824 British military attack further indicated to Asante leaders that the Europeans, especially the British, did not respect Asante.
[28], By 1945, in the wake of a major colonial role in the Second World War, nationalists in the Gold Coast took a leadership role in demanding more autonomy. [152][146], The new Gold Coast constitution of 1946 (also known as the Burns constitution after the governor of the time) was a bold document. The British had abolished the Atlantic slave trade but kept the institution in its colonies until 1834. [39] But the merchant companies had limited ability to provide such security. [7] The European traders built several forts along the coastline. [163][164], Their opposition to the colonial administration notwithstanding, UGCC members were conservative in the sense that their leadership did not seek drastic or revolutionary change. [8] The Gold Coast had long been a name for the region used by Europeans because of the large gold resources found in the area. [141], As early as the latter part of the 19th century, a growing number of educated Africans increasingly found unacceptable an arbitrary political system that placed almost all power in the hands of the governor through his appointment of council members. Hence, the constitution, although greeted with enthusiasm as a significant milestone, soon encountered trouble. [2] It was not until the 19th century that the term came to refer to areas that are far from the coast. [190] The Legislative Assembly increased in size, and all members were chosen by direct election from equal, single-member constituencies. The Third Ashanti War (1893–94) occurred because the new Ashanti ruler Asantehene wanted to exercise his new title. The government steadily increased its financial backing for the growing number of both state and mission schools. B. Danquah, G. A. [16], The Ashanti people had controlled much of the territory of Ghana before the Europeans arrived and were often in conflict with them. Ghana's Presidential Palace, the 'Flagstaff House', formerly known as Golden Jubilee House in Accra, capital city of Ghana.