History of The Land and People of Ghana before Independence

The present boundaries of Ghana, enclosing an area of about 240,000 km sq., and with a population of about 18 million in 1998, were carved out in stages from nineteenth century, by foreign powers when they began spreading their sphere of influence in West Africa. Until the country's present frontiers took shape, what is today the Republic of Ghana comprised of many independent states and kingdoms. Through a number of "treaties" of "Friendship" and forced annexations, the independent states were merged as one territory under the British imperial rule. In 1874, after a long period of loose association with the people, the British formally proclaimed as a colony the southern part of the country, from then on has been called the "Gold Coast" colony. Two years later, the British moved the headquarters from Cape Coast to Accra, which was since remained the capital of the country. On 1'st January 1902, both Asante and Bono-Ahafo Regions and what became the Northern territories were annexed by the British as a crown Colony and a Protectorate Territory respectively. After World War I(1914-1918), the western portion of the former Germany colony of Togo was ceded to the British under the mandate system of the League of Nations. This territory later became known as the Trans-Volta Togo Thus, by 1920, the present frontiers of the country had taken complete shape. The main groups of the people of Ghana are distinguished largely by language and, to a lesser degree, by the their political, social and other cultural institutions. The Akan constitute more than half the country's population. The Ga-Adangbe and the Ewe both inhabit the southern part of the country, while in the northern half of the country is the Mole-Dagbani, comprising the Mamprusi Mossi, Dagomba and Gonja. Other groups in the north include the Dagarti, Sisala, Kusasi, Lobi, Konkomba and Nanumba.