A republic in western Africa, south of BURKINA FASO and west of TOGO. Its capital is Accra. It was called the Gold Coast until 1957, from the gold discovered there by the Portuguese in the late 15th century. A center for slave trade, it was acquired by the British in the 19th century and became independent in 1957. Ghana took its name from a tribal leader that stands for king. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p441 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p206).