ABSTRACT
Ghanaians had little to show in concrete terms for a quarter-century of freedom from colonial rule by the time of Flt Lt Jerry Rawlings’ 1981 takeover. This was ironic given Ghana’s socio-economic position in 1957. Then, the country was generally recognised as sub-Saharan Africa’s wealthiest state; the former Gold Coast was endowed with an impressive transportation system, a highly educated work-force, and a British-trained, professional public service bureaucracy. Much of the optimism at independence was dissipated by economic incompetence, political authoritarianism and widespread denials of basic human rights by Kwame Nkrumah’s Convention People’s Party (CPP) government. Its overthrow in February 1966 was greeted joyfully by most Ghanaians.
