Ghana Economy (Alexandria V.)

I give Ghana's economy a B+

 Ghana was very rich with gold; they lived right above a gold mine. Gold was one of Ghana's most typical traded goods. Gold had earned the Ghanaians a lot of their money. They also produced many other goods, such as diamond, bauxite, magnesium, and aluminum. Aluminum was a popular trade good as well as gold. Ghana is the second largest producer of cocoa in the world. Ghana had 'cash crops', the cash crops included; pineapple, banana, copra, and sweet potatoes. Like in the name, cash crops had increased Ghana’s income. The crops are five percent of the overall budget of Ghana. From the 700's, camels had brought products from the "Arabic World," all the way across the Sahara desert to Ghana. Camels would bring goods such as books, salt, textiles, and tools. They traded these goods with South Ghana with gold, ivory, and slaves.

The Ghanaians also traded with people from the United States, West & North Africa’s, Europeans, Arabs, and mainly with Great Britain. Ghana had two big sea trading ports; Tema and Takoradi. Also, two other cities used Ghana's trade ports which had increased the cities income. Ghana was an important trading state in West Africa from about 300-1000 A.D.When merchants and traders had come to Ghana, wanting to trade, there were many Ghana warriors protecting the Kings people/citizens. But the citizens were taxed, and the warriors protected them in return. They had to pay their tax in salt, iron, peacock feathers, fine silks, spices, and etc. In Ghana, about 750-1076 A.D, the king had created what is called, the 'Silent Barter System', it was a system started by Ghana, which did not include any communication between two trading kingdoms. Instead of meeting and fighting a price, gold would be left at a special place, and the traders would simply come and take it from that secret place. The trading kingdoms often could not speak the same language; so the 'Silent Barter System' was a very effective and useful way of trading. Ghana had also thought of another trading system called the Trans- Sahara Trade, and this is when Ghana traded with North Africans and Europeans. They traded Ghana with cloth, swords, books, and horses. The Arabs though, were bartering what the Ghanaians wanted most; salt. Ghana achieved most of its wealth from the Arabs. With this system, it is no wonder Ghana got rich so quickly. Islamic merchants then, had traveled through the desert to reach Ghana, but were taxed for what they brought in the country, and what they brought out. Ghanaians lives were improved by the way their region was trading because they were very wealthy with gold, and they had been trading it for lots of money. The Ghanaians were very happy with life. They were very lucky to be living above a gold mine.