Outline of Ghana

The following outline is provided as an overview of and topical guide to Ghana: Ghana – sovereign country in West Africa in Africa.

[1] The word "Ghana" means "Warrior King",[2] and was the source of the name "Guinea" (via French Guinoye) used to refer to the West African coast (as in Gulf of Guinea).

Ghana was inhabited in pre-colonial times by a number of ancient predominantly Akan kingdoms, foremost the Bono state, including the inland Empire of Ashanti and various Fante states along the coast and inland.

[3] Trade with European states flourished after contact with the Portuguese in the 15th century, and the British established a crown colony, Gold Coast, in 1874.

[4] Upon achieving independence from the United Kingdom in 1957,[5] the name Ghana was chosen for the new nation to reflect the ancient Empire of Ghana that once extended throughout much of Western Africa.