The Country

Early history. Modern-day Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast, was named after the ancient Ghana Empire, a gold-rich culture that existed to the north in the area that comprises parts of modern-day Mali, Senegal, and Mauritania. Ancestors of modern-day Ghanaians may have entered the area as early as the tenth century. Akans and other ethnic groups migrated south from below the Sahara…

Ghana today. Ghana is regarded as one of Africa's most stable and longstanding democracies. Since the return to civilian rule and the inauguration of the Fourth Republic with the constitution of 1992, Ghana's military has remained outside politics. Democracy has experienced a strong, stable series of political transitions, including the peaceful transition on the death in office of former…

Asante (also seen as Ashanti). The main opposition to British authority was the Asante state, which had risen to prominence in the 17th century and controlled much of Ghana. The Asante are part of the Akan people, Ghana's largest ethnic group, but their kingdom exerted a strong nationalizing influence that is remembered even today in the ceremonial courtesies new national leaders generally…