Formerly called the Gold Coast, this nation, located in the western region of Africa, is bounded by the Gulf of Guinea and the countries of Burkina Faso, Togo, and Côte d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast.) For over three centuries its natural wealth and coastal access made the nation a favored location for inter-African migrations, as well as for trading in slaves and gold. In 1957, Ghana became the first African nation south of the Sahara to achieve independence.