Ghana was formerly called the Gold Coast under British colonial rule.
The name Gold Coast reflected the region’s long association with gold trading, although gold was not the only important resource. European coastal forts and trading posts became part of a broader colonial economy involving gold, ivory and, later, cocoa.
The Gold Coast became the independent state of Ghana on 6 March 1957. The new name referred to the medieval Ghana Empire, which was located farther northwest and was not the same political entity as the modern country. Ghana’s independence influenced decolonisation movements across Africa.