Ghana

The ancient Empire of Ghana was located to the north and west of current-day Ghana, and its name was adopted as a reference to the descendants of the Empire. In 1957 Ghana, known as the Gold Coast, became the first country in colonial Africa to gain its independence. Ghana practices a multiparty parliamentary democracy based on a constitution. By regional standards, it is a well-administered country, widely regarded as a model for political and economic reform in Africa.
Ghana is the second largest producer of gold in Africa. Rich mineral resources such as gold, diamonds, manganese, limestone, bauxite, iron ore as well as various clays and granite deposits are major sources of foreign exchange. In 1999, Ghana produced 2,620,096 million ounces of gold and 684,033.4 carats of diamonds. [Read More]
Mali

Mali, the largest country in West Africa, was named after the Empire of Mali, reaching its pinnacle of power and wealth during the 14th century, extending over almost all of West Africa and controlling virtually all of the rich trans-Saharan gold trade. It was during this period that Mali's great cities, Timbuktu and Djenne, became fabled centers of wealth, learning, and culture.
In 1880 Mali was invaded by France, and for the next 80 years struggled to gain its independence. The Republic of Mali, under Modibo Keïta, withdrew from the French Community on September 22, 1960. Today, Mali is known as a stable, multi-party democratic republic. [Read More]