In 1957, Ghana gained independence from Great Britain. Ghanaian kingdoms varied religiously, ethnically, and culturally. For this reason, Ghana, which currently surrounds the regions of Togo and Ivory Coast, has been plagued by the effects of too much ethnic diversity. The developing movements for political expansion of the first established kingdoms laid the foundation for later independence movements. Pre-independent Ghana, also known as the Gold Coast, consisted of an imperial authority and colonial powers, Portuguese, Dutch, Prussian and British, who oppressed the natives, exploited them as slaves and manipulated their wealth economically for their natural resources. 17th-century leaders developed the concept of growing and inspiring kingdoms to spread their culture and language with the goal of creating a larger population with a single identity. Nationalism on the Gold Coast only evolved in the late 1700s due to overly proud ethnic groups hindering the unions necessary for nationalization. The growth of nationalism can be described through the “J-Brown paradigm of national development” and the final stage of national development. “5 stages of the revolution”, the Thermidorian reaction. The expansion of African tribes, with the aim of subduing other ethnic groups, and their goal of unification to end their oppression due to their status as crown colonies all led to their independence. The identifiable folk group of the Gold Coast circa the 19th century and beyond was difficult to encompass because the region contains a vast array of deeply divided cultural, ethnic, linguistic and religious groups. The Akan, Ga, Ga-Adangbe and Ewe are the main ethnic groups, classified in the Niger-Congo family group. Each group can be a future...... middle of paper ......ture, sanitation and medicine (Scott). Works Cited http://www.latinamericanstudies.org/slavery/ghana.htm http://irenekodotei.org/content/biography McCaskie, TC “The Life and Afterlife of Yaa Asantewaa.” AFRICA-LONDON-AFRICAN INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE- 77.2 (2007): 151. - http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/tribes/ http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/tribes/linguals.php http:/ /www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/photo.day.php?ID=76637 http://irenekodotei.org/content/history-ghanahttp://www.ghana.gov.gh/index.php/about- ghana/ghana-at-a-glance/455-pre-colonial-ghana http://www.thenagain.info/webchron/africa/ghana.html http://sharenews.com/nana-yaa-asantewaa-rallied-her -the-people-against-the-british/ Scott, Catherine V. “Ghana gains independence from the United Kingdom.” Salem Press Encyclopedia (2013): Search Starters. Internet. April 20. 2014.