"[Jeffrey Alhman] provides an important political and social history of 19th- and 20th-century Ghana as it struggled to transform itself into an independent nation. Modern Ghana, which achieved its independence on March 6, 1957, has a complex history involving both a question of identity-what it means to be Ghanaian-and the evolution of the country's place within Africa and the world. Ahlman explores this in eight chronologically defined chapters that connect Ghana's transition from a region of Atlantic trade to the colonial, chocolate-producing Gold Coast of the 19th century to the intellectual, social, and political push to become a free and independent nation." -- CHOICE " Ghana is a consequential, compelling, and sobering account of Ghana from the 1800s to the present. Bringing to bear a host of voices, and wide-ranging sources and archives, Ghana tells us that false dawns and promises have constantly marred the journey toward postcolonial economic and political African independence. This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the state of postcolonial Ghana and Africa today and anyone interested in how Africans have grappled with individual and collective sovereignty in the face of colonial, military, and democratic governments." -- Nana Osei-Opare, Fordham University, USA "This ambitious book provides a superb introduction to the history of Ghana since the nineteenth century by looking at the changing meanings of a "Gold Coaster" under colonial rule and of "Ghanaian" within an emerging nation-state. Attentive to the coexistence of multiple political and social identities, transnational connections, and economic conditions, this book is a tour de force - yet always clearly argued and accessible.

It's a joy to read!" -- Stephan F. Miescher, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA "This penetrating study, rooted in an array of scholarly and primary sources, examines Ghana's recent past through the lens of networks of self-identification and belonging that extend beyond the conventional nation-state. Emphasizing African agency in these political, economic, social, and cultural networks, Ahlman's study offers a critical new perspective that challenges Eurocentric models and periodization. It is highly recommended for scholars, students, and the general public." -- Elizabeth Schmidt, Professor Emeritus of History, Loyola University Maryland, USA.