Ghana was one of the first African countries to do this. It had been part of the British Empire since 1874. Europeans referred to the region as the Gold Coast due to the amount of gold found there.

Medieval Ghana (4th - 13th Century ... Gambia who have strong links with the Empire. There is also the matrilineal connection. ...MORE Gold Coast & European Exploration: Before March 1957 ...

Ancient Ghana derived power and wealth from gold and the introduction of the camel ... running parallel with the coast, then round to the south-east through Awdaghust and ending up in Kumbi ...

Here are five things to know about the nation of some 34 million people: - Top gold producer - Once called the Gold Coast ... more than 80 years as a British colony, Ghana was the first country ...