Ghana and the Togoland was affected economically and socially because of the first world War that started in 1914.
One of the evils of colonialism has been that colonies have become involved in wars which are really no concern of theirs.
One of the disadvantages of the world War was the Gold Coast and the Togoland factor.
Due to the scramble of Africa, Germany, France and Britain compete each other. There was a great rivalry for the control of African territories,the French disliked the Germans, Britain disliked the German whiles the Germans also built a great fleet challenge against the British.War broke out because of mistrust among the European countries
The British declared war on the Germany in August 1914, the Gold Coast was in a difficult situation. Togoland had been colonized by the Germans, and they had just finished building a lot of Social amenities in the colony. There were two missions in the Gold Coast with German Connexions that is the Basel and the Breman missions and quite number of Germans.
The only Military force that Gold Coast had was the Gold Coast Regiment in which soldiers were mostly men from the northern part of the country.
The Gold Coast won the first war against the Germans. Immediately after the war the Gold Coast Regiment invaded Togoland.
Germany lost the Togoland colony to the British with support from the Gold Coast Regiment who fought in favour of their masters.
Western Togoland became under the British rule for the duration of the war; eastern Togoland to the French.
The German merchants in Togoland and the Bremen Missionaries in the Gold Coast were deported.
Effects of the war on the Gold Coast can traced to the demolishing of lives and properties in the colony.
Many brave Ghanaians were killed in fighting due to the huge weapons used
The Germans fought a bitter war at the sea; the Germans destroyed many merchant ships. This meant that the Gold Coast was not able to import many things it needed.The exporting of cocoa became very difficult. The war also made things more expensive to buy. Because of the war, people had to pay more taxes.
Everybody in the Gold Coast therefore sighed with relief when peace came in November 1918