TESSA - Ghana

TESSA - Ghana

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Resource 1: Some important historical events since independence

Background information / subject knowledge for teacher

Date	Event
6 March 1957	Independence Day. The British Colony of the Gold Coast Becomes independent Ghana.
1 July 1960	Ghana becomes a republic, with Nkrumah as president.
1964	Ghana is declared a one-party state. Akosombo Dam is completed.
1966	While Nkrumah is in China, army stages widely popular coup. National Liberation Council (NLC), led by General Joseph Ankrah, comes to power.
April 1969	General Ankrah is replaced by Brigadier Akwasi Afrifa.
May 1969	A new constitution is introduced and the ban on party politics is lifted.
August 1969	An election for a new national assembly is held, the Progress Party (PP) wins and is led by Dr Kofi Busia, who is subsequently appointed prime minister. The PP government takes office in October.
January 1972	Lieutenant Colonel Ignatius Acheampong leads a military coup in January that brings the National Redemption Council (NRC) 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. Acheampong forced to resign by fellow officers; General Frederick Akuffo takes over.
1979	The ban on party politics is lifted and 16 new parties are subsequently registered. A coup staged by junior officers of the armed forces, led by Flt-Lt Jerry Rawlings, fails on 15 May and he is subsequently imprisoned. In June, junior officers stage Ghana's first violent coup. Armed Forces Revolutionary Council forms under Flight Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings.

3. Comparing African histories

Resource 2: African timelines template

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