Ghana
Formed from the merger of the British colony of the Gold Coast
and the Togoland trust territory, Ghana in 1957 became the first
sub-Saharan country in colonial Africa to gain its independence.
Ghana endured a long series of coups before Lt. Jerry RAWLINGS took
power in 1981 and banned political parties. After approving a new
constitution and restoring multiparty politics in 1992, RAWLINGS won
presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, but was constitutionally
prevented from running for a third term in 2000. John KUFUOR
succeeded him and was reelected in 2004. John Atta MILLS took over
as head of state in early 2009.
Gibraltar
Strategically important, Gibraltar was reluctantly ceded
to Great Britain by Spain in the 1713 Treaty of Utrecht; the British
garrison was formally declared a colony in 1830. In a referendum
held in 1967, Gibraltarians voted overwhelmingly to remain a British
dependency. The subsequent granting of autonomy in 1969 by the UK
led to Spain closing the border and severing all communication
links. A series of talks were held by the UK and Spain between 1997
and 2002 on establishing temporary joint sovereignty over Gibraltar.
In response to these talks, the Gibraltar Government called a
referendum in late 2002 in which the majority of citizens voted
overwhelmingly against any sharing of sovereignty with Spain. Since
late 2004, tripartite talks among Spain, the UK, and Gibraltar have
been held with the aim of cooperatively resolving problems that
affect the local population, and work continues on cooperation
agreements in areas such as taxation and financial services;
communications and maritime security; policy, legal and customs
services; environmental protection; and education and visa services.
Throughout 2009, a dispute over Gibraltar's claim to territorial
waters extending out three miles gave rise to periodic non-violent
maritime confrontations between Spanish and UK naval patrols. A new
noncolonial constitution came into effect in 2007, and the European
Court of First Instance recognized Gibraltar's right to regulate its
own tax regime in December 2008, but the UK retains responsibility
for defense, foreign relations, internal security, and financial
stability.
Greece
Greece achieved independence from the Ottoman Empire in 1829.
During the second half of the 19th century and the first half of the
20th century, it gradually added neighboring islands and
territories, most with Greek-speaking populations. In World War II,
Greece was first invaded by Italy (1940) and subsequently occupied
by Germany (1941-44); fighting endured in a protracted civil war
between supporters of the king and other anti-Communists and
Communist rebels. Following the latter's defeat in 1949, Greece
joined NATO in 1952. In 1967, a group of military officers seized
power, establishing a military dictatorship that suspended many
political liberties and forced the king to flee the country. In
1974, democratic elections and a referendum created a parliamentary
republic and abolished the monarchy. In 1981, Greece joined the EC
(now the EU); it became the 12th member of the European Economic and
Monetary Union in 2001. In 2010, the prospect of a Greek default on
its euro-denominated debt created severe strains within the EMU and
raised the question of whether a member country might voluntarily
leave the common currency or be removed.
Greenland
Greenland, the world's largest island, is about 81% ice
capped. Vikings reached the island in the 10th century from Iceland;
Danish colonization began in the 18th century, and Greenland was
made an integral part of Denmark in 1953. It joined the European
Community (now the EU) with Denmark in 1973 but withdrew in 1985
over a dispute centered on stringent fishing quotas. Greenland was
granted self-government in 1979 by the Danish parliament; the law
went into effect the following year. Greenland voted in favor of
increased self-rule in November 2008 and acquired greater
responsibility for internal affairs in June 2009. Denmark, however,
continues to exercise control of Greenland's foreign affairs,
security, and financial policy in consultation with Greenland's Home
Rule Government.
Grenada
Carib Indians inhabited Grenada when COLUMBUS discovered the
island in 1498, but it remained uncolonized for more than a century.
The French settled Grenada in the 17th century, established sugar
estates, and imported large numbers of African slaves. Britain took
the island in 1762 and vigorously expanded sugar production. In the
19th century, cacao eventually surpassed sugar as the main export
crop; in the 20th century, nutmeg became the leading export. In
1967, Britain gave Grenada autonomy over its internal affairs. Full
independence was attained in 1974 making Grenada one of the smallest
independent countries in the Western Hemisphere. Grenada was seized
by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later the
island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean
nations, which quickly captured the ringleaders and their hundreds
of Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted the following
year and have continued since that time. Hurricane Ivan struck
Grenada in September of 2004 causing severe damage.
Guam
Guam was ceded to the US by Spain in 1898. Captured by the
Japanese in 1941, it was retaken by the US three years later. The
military installation on the island is one of the most strategically
important US bases in the Pacific.
Guatemala
The Mayan civilization flourished in Guatemala and
surrounding regions during the first millennium A.D. After almost
three centuries as a Spanish colony, Guatemala won its independence
in 1821. During the second half of the 20th century, it experienced
a variety of military and civilian governments, as well as a 36-year
guerrilla war. In 1996, the government signed a peace agreement
formally ending the conflict, which had left more than 100,000
people dead and had created, by some estimates, some 1 million
refugees.
Guernsey
Guernsey and the other Channel Islands represent the last
remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy, which held sway in
both France and England. The islands were the only British soil
occupied by German troops in World War II. Guernsey is a British
crown dependency but is not part of the UK or of the European Union.
However, the UK Government is constitutionally responsible for its
defense and international representation.
Guinea
Guinea has had a history of authoritarian rule since gaining
its independence from France in 1958. Lansana CONTE came to power in
1984 when the military seized the government after the death of the
first president, Sekou TOURE. Guinea did not hold democratic
elections until 1993 when Gen. CONTE (head of the military
government) was elected president of the civilian government. He was
reelected in 1998 and again in 2003, though all the polls were
marred by irregularities. History repeated itself in December 2008
when following President CONTE's death, Capt. Moussa Dadis CAMARA
led a military coup, seizing power and suspending the constitution.
His unwillingness to yield to domestic and international pressure to
step down led to heightened political tensions that culminated in
September 2009 when presidential guards opened fire on an opposition
rally killing more than 150 people, and in early December 2009 when
CAMARA was wounded in an assassination attempt and evacuated to
Morocco and subsequently to Burkina Faso. A transitional government
led by General Sekouba KONATE held democratic elections in 2010 and
Alpha CONDE was elected president in the country's first free and
fair elections since independence.
Guinea-Bissau
Since independence from Portugal in 1974,
Guinea-Bissau has experienced considerable political and military
upheaval. In 1980, a military coup established authoritarian
dictator Joao Bernardo 'Nino' VIEIRA as president. Despite setting a
path to a market economy and multiparty system, VIEIRA's regime was
characterized by the suppression of political opposition and the
purging of political rivals. Several coup attempts through the 1980s
and early 1990s failed to unseat him. In 1994 VIEIRA was elected
president in the country's first free elections. A military mutiny
and resulting civil war in 1998 eventually led to VIEIRA's ouster in
May 1999. In February 2000, a transitional government turned over
power to opposition leader Kumba YALA after he was elected president
in transparent polling. In September 2003, after only three years in
office, YALA was ousted by the military in a bloodless coup, and
businessman Henrique ROSA was sworn in as interim president. In
2005, former President VIEIRA was re-elected president pledging to
pursue economic development and national reconciliation; he was
assassinated in March 2009. Malam Bacai SANHA was elected in an
emergency election held in June 2009.