Ghana became independent from Britain on 6 March 1957, with celebrations centered in Accra.
Then called the Gold Coast, the country gained independence under Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah. The ceremony made Ghana the first sub-Saharan African colony to achieve independence from European colonial rule in the postwar period.
Independence Day events include parades, official speeches, cultural performances, and flag displays. Accra’s Independence Square, also called Black Star Square, is strongly associated with national ceremonies and public commemorations.
Ghana’s independence had influence well beyond its borders. Nkrumah promoted Pan-African unity, and the country’s success encouraged anti-colonial movements elsewhere on the continent. Ghana became a republic in 1960, but 6 March remains the anniversary of independence.