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WHAT HAPPENED IN GHANA?

DU BOIS

and point out that inherent weakness in that structure, the dangers from within and without, the mistakes made and the lessons other developing countries can learn. The imperialists and neo-colonialists are stepping up their drive in Africa. They are determined to halt progressive and anti-colonialist movements. Confronted as they are with ever-increasing difficulties within NATO, they are trying to turn themselves into a police force to guarantee the safety of their interests. South Africa and Portugal are more defiant than ever; and now Southern Rhodesia is joining South Africa in an effort to keep the black man in subjugation.

I was the Director of Television in Ghana. In view of the fact that my home and offices were in the most "sensitive area," the area which first had to be taken over and "subdued," that my work was twisted into a horrible caricature of itself, that I escaped with only what could be crammed into suitcases and that some of my closest associates and friends are in dungeons, in exile or dead; considering all this, my objectivity may at times be a bit strained.

But, the other evening over Radio Cairo came the strains of a familiar Negro spiritual:

If I had a Hammer - I'd beat out Freedom,
If I had a Bell - I'd ring out Danger,
If I had a Song - I'd sing of Justice and Brotherhood All over this World.

Well, I have a Hammer and I have a Bell; and the Song is buried deep in my hear. So here goes:

the internal structure of Ghana

The area of Ghana is approximately that of Great Britain, but the population is only seven and a half million. It was from the coast of Guinea, where Ghana is situated, that most of the slaves were carried off to America. Beginning in the 16th century, for more than three hundred years, the lands bordering on the Gulf of Guinea were the cause of fighting between the Portuguese, Spaniards, Dutch, Danes, French and English. Gold and crude diamonds were discovered early. The profitable traffic in slaves increased the struggle for possession. But, by the beginning of the 20th century most of this land had been divided between Great Britain and France.

With the production of cocoa the Gold Coast became one of the most important of the British colonies. They deemed it worthwhile

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