1966 and the Foreshortening of Ghana’s History

Abstract

In Ghanaian historiography, the years 1966 and 1979 have become synonymous with turning points, which has led to an enduring historiographical preference of the Nkrumah and Rawlings years. The result is a foreshortening of Ghana’s postcolonial history. This has led readers to a disquieting illusion that the 1970s only serves as background story. Nonetheless, the long 1970s—that is from 1966 to 1979—has its own story to tell. Using 1966 and the aftermath as a site of contention, and individual life stories, this short piece proposes pathways to revisiting and appreciating Ghana’s postcolonial journey in the long 1970s.