Ghana

1957 – Present

After a lengthy transition period, Ghana gained independence in 1957, becoming the first sub-Saharan country to end colonial rule. The first president of the young republic was Kwame Nkrumah. Nkrumah entered office with widespread popularity and high expectations. In 1958 he held a conference in Accra that attracted hundreds of African leaders from around the continent. Nkrumah become an outspoken supporter of Pan-Africanism, an ideology that favored a unified African state. However, Nkrumah's economic policies, increasingly repressive measures against political opposition, and expansion of state control eroded his support, and in 1966 he was overthrown in a military coup led by General Joseph Ankrah. The army returned control of Ghana to civilian politicians after several years, but intervened several more times in the ensuing years. Eventually a low-ranking officer, Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings, seized control of the government in 1982. Rawlings instituted economic reforms, and also introduced elections. After serving two terms as president (in addition to his rule before the democratic reforms), Rawlings stepped down in accordance with the Constitution. He was suceeded by John Kufuor. John Atta Mills, a member of the opposition, won elections in 2008 that were marked by relative calm and the peaceful transfer of power from one party to another.