Accra grew into a prosperous trading centre. The Danes and the Dutch left the region in 1850 and 1872, respectively, and in 1877 Accra became the capital of the British Gold Coast colony. In 1898 a municipal council was formed to improve the town. By the 1930s Accra was systematically laid out.
Many of the economic and social improvements in the Gold Coast in the early part of the 20th century have been attributed to the Canadian – born Gordon Guggisberg, governor from 1919 to 1927. Within the first six weeks of his governorship, he presented a ten – year development programme to the Legislative Council. He suggested first the improvement of transportation. Then, in order of priority, his prescribed improvements included water supply, drainage, hydroelectric projects, public buildings, town improvements, schools, hospitals, communication lines, and other services. He also set a goal of filling half of the colony’s technical positions with Africans as soon as they could be trained.
Some of the photos during the early 1920s & 30s are below;
Further more the foundation of an educational system more advanced than any other else in West Africa also resulted from mineral export revenue. It was through British – style education that a new Ghanaian elite was created. From beginnings in missionary schools, the early part of the 20th century saw the opening of secondary schools and the country’s first institute of higher learning.
By the mid 90’s when the leaders of the former British colony of the Gold Coast sought an appropriate name for their newly independent state the first black African nation to gain its independence from colonial rule they named their new country after ancient Ghana. The choice was more than merely symbolic, because modern Ghana, like its namesake, was equally famed for its wealth and trade in gold.
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