View image in fullscreenSamuel JK Essoun, Shama, Ghana, 1964(Ghana!: Independence show)On 6 March, 1957, after more than a century under British rule, Ghana, formerly the Gold Coast, celebrated its independence. Photography played a crucial role in shaping the image of the young nation. The country’s image was thus documented across numerous photography books, including the now-iconic Ghana: An African Portrait (1976) by Paul Strand.