Ghana marks 50 years of freedom

Last Modified: 06 Mar 2007
By: Katie Razzall

It was a historic turning point for the continent - and set off a wave of decolonisation in Africa as other countries followed suit.

Thousands of cheering Ghanaians waved the red, yellow and green national flag packed a central square in the capital Acrra to mark the anniversary of the first nation in sub-Saharan Africa to win independence.

It was a historic turning point for the continent - and set off a wave of decolonisation in Africa as other countries followed suit.

Ghana's current political stability and economic growth are often held up as a model for the continent, but in a country where poverty is still widespread, some people have questioned the lavish celebrations that are taking place.

Colonial past

From the 15th Century onwards European countries including France, Portugal, Germany, Holland, Italy and Britain competed for control of Africa's natural resources.

The race culminated in the 19th Century 'scramble for Africa'. Ghana was a rich prize, valued for its gold, timber and cocoa. The British came to dominate Ghana and by the 1940s had formalised their rule over the area (then known as the Gold Coast).

'Wind of change'

After the Second World War, many found imperialism outdated. Britain sensed a 'wind of change' in Africa well before Harold Macmillan coined the term in his 1960 speech.

'We face neither East nor West: we face forward!'
Kwame Nkrumah

Ghana was at the forefront of this change. It was one of the wealthiest sub-Saharan countries, with a relatively large educated black population and a visionary leader: Kwame Nkrumah.

Nkrumah believed in 'pan-Africanism' - unity between African people and freedom from outside influences. He famously said: "We face neither East nor West: we face forward!"

In 1954 he negotiated a new constitution with the British and was elected prime minister. In 1957, he led his country to formal independence.

Post-independence

Independence was only half the battle. Corruption and mismanagement dogged Nkrumah's government. His drive for rapid industrialisation also caused widespread disaffection.

He was overthrown in 1966, followed by several decades of mostly military rule.

Reforms in the 1990s guaranteed multi-party elections and today Ghana is one of the most stable countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

President Kufuor has actively sought to distance the nation from its former lack of democracy by choosing to emphasise this anniversary over those celebrated by the former (military) president, Lieutenant JJ Rawlings.

Ghana's impact

But 1957 had a significance beyond Ghana. It seemed to light a touchpaper for the entire region. Nkrumah for all his failings was an inspiration - not just to Ghanaians.

The 1960s saw a wave of nationalist movements and by 1964, countries including Congo, Cote D'Ivoire, Kenya, Senegal, Malawi and Zambia had all won independence.

And since then Ghana has assumed another role of leadership through its most famous son, former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.

Additional reporting by Esther Webber.