A New Look at the History of Ghana

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Periodical article

Title:	A New Look at the History of Ghana
Author:	Boahen, A. Adu
Year:	1966
Periodical:	African Affairs: The Journal of the Royal African Society
Volume:	65
Issue:	260
Period:	July
Pages:	212-222
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Ghana
Subjects:	history History and Exploration
External link:	https://www.jstor.org/stable/719802
Abstract:	Referring to the historical works of Claridge (1915/1964), Ward (1940/1948/1958), Fage (1961) the author investigates how Ghanaian history has been presented so far and what can be said about it in the light of recent research and approach. To his opinion the history of Ghana in the period before the end of the 15th century has been grossly misreprented; the 16th and 17th centuries have been dealtwith but from the European rather than the African standpoint; the 18th century history is satisfactory from the point of view of approach but erroneous and totally misleading from the point of view of facts and interpretation; the 19th century as portrayed is very one sided - predominantly political and diplomatic, and the treatment of the 20th century is patently unsatisfacory. In short, an up-to-date, properly orientated and balanced general history of Ghana is yet to be written.