2012 Event Ghana's state funeral, held in Accra for President John Atta Mills, attracts tens of thousands 2012 Event Vice-President John Dramani Mahama becomes President of Ghana after President John Atta Mills, dies 2010 Event Ghana begins pumping oil after its discovery of an offshore oil field three years ago 2001 Event Police tear gas unruly soccer fans, ensuing panic kills over 100 in Ghana 1998 Death Hilla Limann, president of Ghana in (1979-81), dies 1992 Event Ghana Airways inaugurates flights to JFK Airport, New York City 1989 Birthday Freddy Adu, born in Tema, Ghana, athlete, soccer phenomenon, played for D.C. United, Real Salt Lake 1981 Event Lt Jerry Rawlings becomes head of Ghana, suspends constitution 1979 Event Ghana adopts constitution 1978 Death Kofi Busia, statesman, leader of the Ghana Congress Party, which became the United Party, Prime Minister, 2nd Republic of Ghana, 1969 - 1972, died 1972 Event Jim Ryan (U.S.) and Billy Fordjour (Ghana) collide and fall in qualifying competitions for 1,500m finals, ending Ryan's chances for gold 1972 Death Kwame Nkrumah, re-buried in Nkroful Ghana 1972 Death Kwame Nkrumah, president of Ghana, dies at 62 1972 Event Military coup ousts civilian government of Ghana 1966 Event Kwame Nkrumah flees Ghana to Guinee 1966 Event Coup ousts President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana 1964 Event Failed assassination attempt on president Nkrumah of Ghana 1963 Death W E B Du Bois, scholar/founder (NAACP), dies at 95 in Accra Ghana 1962 Event Failed assassination on president Nkrumah of Ghana 1960 Event Ghana drops diplomatic relations with Belgium 1960 Event Ghana becomes a republic 1957 Event President Eisenhower apologizes to finance minister of Ghana, Komla Agbeli Gbdemah, after he is refused service in a Dover, Del, restaurant 1957 Event Ghana (formerly Gold Coast) declares independence from U.K. 1951 Event Kwame Nkrumah wins 1st parliamentary election on Gold coast (Ghana) 1942 Birthday Ama Ata Aidoo, born in Saltpond, Ghana, Ghanaian author and playwright, wrote 'The Dilemma of a Ghost' 1938 Death Nana Annor Adjaye, Pan-Africanist, dies in W Nzima Ghana 1938 Birthday Kofi Annan, born in Ghana, Kofi Atta Annan, diplomat, statesman, Secretary-General of the United Nations 1997 - 2007, received 2001 Nobel Peace Prize 1927 Death James E K Aggrey, Ghana/US theologist, dies 1913 Birthday Kofi Busia, born in Wenchi, Ghana, statesman, leader of the Ghana Congress Party, which became the United Party, Catholic, Prime Minister, 2nd Republic of Ghana, 1969 - 1972 1909 Birthday Kwame Nkrumah, communist/premier Gold Coast/president Ghana, 1960-66 1901 Event Great Britain annexes Gold Coast (Ghana) 1897 Event British troops occupy Bida Gold Coast (Ghana) 1875 Birthday James E K Aggrey, Ghana, U.S. theologian/educationalist
