Jesse+M.+-+ASI+-+FA09

__History of Ghana__

In 1482 Portuguese settlers established a city in Ghana and named it Elmina. This set the tone for many European countries also to come into Africa and settle. By 1847 most of the coast of Ghana was proclaimed by Britain. After being oppressed greatly, the country of Ghana became independent from Europe's power in 1957. As of 1966, Ghana was a one party state, with prime minister Nkrumah in charge. However, 3 years later, Nkrumah was overthrown by a military group. The military group only held power for a short time, when a civilian group led by Kofi Busia overpowered them. In 1981 Jerry Rawlings became the leader. He was a pilot in the air force and adopted conservative economic policies, abolished subsidies and price controls, privatising many state enterprises and devaluing the currency.

__History of Zambia__

By the end of the 18th century, Portuguese explorers had started to make visits to the country of Zambia. There was little organization in the country at this time, which was a consequence of migration and slave trading by the Portuguese and the Arabs. To help with the disorganization David Livingstone, a British missionary visited around 1851. While he was there he spread Christianity throughout the country. By the time the 1920's rolled around, copper had been discovered up and down the borders of Zambia. The discovery of copper in Zambia created a great influx of Europeans in Zambia. In 1960 Kenneth Kaunda founded the UNIP (United National Independence Party). The UNIP was formed to promote independence and the dissolution of the southern white-controlled federation. Not 3 years later was the federation successfully dissolved. A year later the country was given its independence and Kaundra was elected president. As of 1972, Zambia was officially considered a one-party state, with UNIP as its one-party. A big jump for the trading industry in Zambia occurred in 1975, when the Tan-Zam railway was opened that provided a passage between the Copperbelt and the Tanzanian port of Dar es Salaam. The main effect of this link, was that the country no longer had to rely on the southern part of the country to export goods.

__Social effects on Ghana and Zambia__

The issue of Environmental Degredation effects the countries of Ghana and Zambia socially because it contributes to food insecurity, famine and poverty. Hunger, poverty and environmental degradation are interrelated because they all are a cause or effect of the other. Both countries have been putting up with these issues for years, and will be for years to come. The tribes living in the forrests that are being cut down, are being kicked out of the land. This effect is forcing people to change their traditions and their culture.

__Political effects on Ghana and Zambia__

Environmental Degredation effects Ghana politically because many new organizations were created due to the envivronmental degredation. Such groups as the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and the National Redemption Council (NRC) were created in order to help the countries of Ghana and Zambia.

__Economic effects on Ghana__

Environmental Degradation has costed the economy of Ghana 10 percent of their GDP. Such factors as water and air pollution, deforestation and desertification continue to take their toll. Ghana's GDP from 2006 was more than $12 billion, putting the estimated cost of the degradation at about $1.2 billion.

__Sources__

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/country_profiles/1023444.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/1719293.stm

http://www.undp-gha.org/speech1.php