What was Ghana original name?

the Gold Coast
Formerly known as the Gold Coast, Ghana gained independence from Britain in 1957, becoming the first sub-Saharan nation to break free from colonial rule.

What was Ghana renamed?

The Gold Coast
The Gold Coast was renamed Ghana upon independence in 1957 because of indications that present-day inhabitants descended from migrants who moved south from the ancient kingdom of Ghana. The first contact between Europe and the Gold Coast dates from 1470, when a party of Portuguese landed.

How was the name changed from Gold Coast to Ghana?

In 1957, when the leaders of the former British colony of the Gold Coast sought an appropriate name for their newly independent state—the first black African nation to gain its independence from colonial rule—they named their new country after ancient Ghana.

What did the Gold Coast change its name to?

The Gold Coast colony (as Ghana) became a dominion of the British Commonwealth (March 6, 1957) and achieved independence as the Republic of Ghana in 1960.

Why was Ghana named?

The etymology of the name Ghana means “Strong Warrior King” and was the title accorded to the kings of the medieval “Ghana” Empire in West Africa, not to be confused with today’s Ghana, as the empire was further north in modern-day Republic of Mali, Senegal, southern Mauritania, as well as in the region of Guinea.

What was the capital of Ghana before Accra?

An important seat of Asante traders, Cape Coast became a roadstead port and was the British commercial and administrative capital of the Gold Coast until 1877, when Accra became the capital. Cape Coast began to decline in the early 1900s, when railways were built from Sekondi and Accra inland to Kumasi.

Why was Ghana referred to as Gold Coast?

Gold Coast is a former British colony in West Africa known today as the Republic of Ghana. In the transatlantic slave trade era, Europeans identified the region as the Gold Coast because of the large supplies of and market for gold that existed there.

What was the original name of the Gold Coast?

the South Coast
The Gold Coast was originally known as the South Coast (because it was south of Brisbane). However, over-inflated prices for real estate and other goods and services led to the nickname of “Gold Coast” from 1950. South Coast locals initially considered the name “Gold Coast” derogatory.

Who founded Ghana?

Founded by Abdallah ibn Yasin, their capital was Marrakesh, a city they founded in 1062. The dynasty originated among the Lamtuna and the Gudala, nomadic Berber tribes of the Sahara, traversing the territory between the Draa, the Niger, and the Senegal rivers.

Why is Accra called Accra?

The name Accra itself is a corruption of the Akan word nkran. It refers to the black ants that abound in the vicinity. Accra grew into a prosperous trading centre. The Danes and the Dutch left the region in 1850 and 1872, respectively, and in 1877 Accra became the capital of the British Gold Coast colony.

What was Ghana called before the Gold Coast?

The Mamprussi, the Dagoma, the Gonja and the Akans of present Ghana as well as the Mandikas of Senegal/Gambia are believed to have had ancestors linked with medieval Ghana. As history has it, before March 1957, Ghana was called the Gold Coast.

How did Ghana get its name?

Eventually, this objective was achieved on March 6, 1957 under the leadership of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who had broken away from the UGCC to form the Convention People’s Party (CPP). Thus, the Gold Coast on the eve of its freedom from British rule became known as Ghana-named after the medieval Ghana Empire of West Africa.

What was Ghana called before March 1957?

As history has it, before March 1957, Ghana was called the Gold Coast. During the 15th Century the Portuguese visited the coast of Ghana. They discovered that the land between the rivers Ankobra and the Volta was full of gold that they named the land Mina- meaning Mine.

What did the Portuguese do in Ghana?

During the 15th Century the Portuguese visited the coast of Ghana. They discovered that the land between the rivers Ankobra and the Volta was full of gold that they named the land Mina- meaning Mine. The Portuguese built a castle at Elmina in 1482 to trade in gold, ivory and slaves.