Ghana: History

The Portuguese establish a trading settlement in Ghana.

Britain declares the coastal area of Ghana a crown colony.

Ghana declares independence from the British, making it the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to do so.

Rawlings leads the adoption of free-market economic policies, removing subsidies and price controls, privatizing state enterprises, and devaluing the currency.

Ghana is granted debt relief from the IMF and the World Bank.

The government of Ghana approves a $1.48 billion merger between two gold mining firms, Ghana's Ashanti Goldfields, and South Africa's AngloGold.

Major off-shore oil discovery announced. The government claims that the oil will turn Ghana into an "African tiger". Later that year, the worst floods in more than 30 years cause widespread devastation, destroying much of the annual harvest. 

A $600 million dollar loan is secured by Ghana from the International Monetary Fund.

Ghana begins offshore oil production.

Thousands are displaced by communal violence in the east, sparked by the exhumation of the body of a Muslim cleric.

Thousands take to the streets to protest against the government's alleged mishandling of the economy.

Ghana and Ivory Coast set up a commission to implement an international ruling on a maritime border dispute involving oilfields.