Most Important Events in Ghana's History

Ghana, a country in West Africa has come a long way with a very rich history, starting from the post-colonial era to the post-colonial, the country has gone through through transitions and has accumulated experiences that has formed the Ghana that we all know today. Thanks to the great men that contributed their quota in different spheres of life to see that the country achieved her dream. Unfortunately many just know about Ghana as a great nation, but they are not aware of the challenges they passed through on their journey to greatness. Hence we have decided to help out by bringing to you in summary the most important events in the history of Ghana.

Early History

The following are the early and pre-colonial history of Ghana

ca. 10,000 B.C. Earliest recorded probable human habitation within modern Ghana at site on Oti River.

ca. 4000 B.C. Oldest date for pottery at Stone Age site near Accra.

ca. 100 B.C. Early Iron Age at Tema.

Formative Centuries

ca. A.D. 1200 Guan started their movement down Volta Basin from Gonja to the Gulf of Guinea.

ca. 1298 Akan kingdom of Bono (Brong) was founded. Other states had arisen or were beginning to rise about this time.

1471-82 First Europeans arrive. Portuguese build Elmina Castle.

1482 - Portuguese set up trading settlement.

1500-1807 Era of wars and slave raid and of intense state formation in Gold Coast.

1697-1745 Rise and consolidation of Asante Empire.

1874 - British proclaim coastal area a crown colony.

Ninteenth Century

1817 - 1821: Two ambassadors were sent to Kumasi to negotiate peace with King Osei Bonsu. This failed.

1823 - 1824: In Asante Denkyira war, Sir Charles Macarthy together with his Fante allies supported the Denkyiras. Sir Charles Marcathy was killed in the war.

1843-44 British government signs Bond of 1844 with Fante chiefs.

1863: Battle of Bobikuma. Britain defeated

1864: Britain lost another war.

1873-74 Last Asante invasion of coast. British capture Kumasi.

1874 Britain establishes Gold Coast Colony.

1878 Cocoa introduced to Ghana.

1888: Nana Agyeman Prempeh I ascended the throne of the Asante Kingdom.

1897 Aboriginess right Protection society.

Twentieth Century - Pre Independence


1902: Northern Territories proclaimed a British protectorate.

1919: German Togo becomes a mandate under Gold Coast administration.

1924: Nana Agyemang Prempeh I returned . Died in 1931.

1925: Constitution of 1925 calls for six chiefs to be elected to Legislative Council. Guggisburg Constitution

1935: Prempeh II Asante Confideracy Council.

1939-45 Gold Coast African forces serve in Ethiopia and Burma.

1947 United Gold Coast Convention founded.

1948 Nii Kwabena Bone II--an Accra chief organised the boycott of Europen and Syrian, Lebanese goods.


1949 Kwame Nkrumah breaks with United Gold Coast Convention and forms Convention People's Party. Internal trouble in UGCC. Nkrumah broke off to form his own Convention Peoples' Party (CPP), with the slogan of SELF GOVERNMENT NOW.

1951 New constitution leads to general elections. Convention People's Party wins two-thirds majority.
First General election . CPP won 34 seats , UGCC --3. 
21 March 1952 Kwame Nkrumah who was in prison for positive action, won the seat in central Accra, and was released to become the leader of Govt business, and Prime Minister on .

1957 British Colony of the Gold Coast becomes independent Ghana on March 6.

Twentieth Century - Post Independence


1960 Plebiscite creates a republic on July 1, with Nkrumah as president.

1964 Ghana declared a one-party state. Completion of Akosombo Dam.

1966: Feb 24 - While Nkrumah is in China, themilitary organised a  coup. , led by General Joseph Ankrah of the , National Liberation Council(NLC) comes to power.
April 1969: General Ankrah is replaced by Brigadier Akwasi Afrifa , a new constitution is introduced and the ban on party politics is lifted the following month.

1972 Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Acheampong leads a military coup in January that brings National Redemption Council to power.

1975: The NRC is replaced by the Supreme Military Council (SMC) also led by Acheampong.

1978: A referendum is held in favour of union government.


July 5 Acheampong forced to resign by fellow officers; General Frederick Akuffo takes over.

References:

Princeton University on History of Ghana