Having found gold here in 1471, the Portuguese named this part of Africa the Gold Coast. The name Ghana is that of an African empire along the Niger River, far to the north-west of present-day Ghana, between 400 and 1240 AD.
After having been under British rule for 113 years, Ghana gained independence and adopted its new name on March 6 1957. In 1960 it attained republic status within the Commonwealth.
Independent Ghana became a symbol of freedom for black Africa. In the 1960's and 70's, however, a series of repressive civil and military governments led to economic stagnation.
Since the coup of 1981, executive and legislative powers lie with the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), which rules by decree.
There are 10 regions in Ghana, divided into 64 smaller administrative units.
