The Slovenia Report (One page, basic version)
Overview |History | Geography | Economy | People | Current Event
Star Player | World Cup Information | Links | Sources

Overview
Slovenia was joined with the Serbs and the Croats in 1918, forming a new nation, renamed Yugoslavia in 1929. Slovenia became a republic of the renewed Yugoslavia after World War II. The Slovenes succeeded in establishing their independence in 1991 after being dissatisfied with the Serbs. A strong economy, Western Europe, and stable democracy make Slovenia a leading candidate for future membership in the EU and NATO.
 
 
 

History
 
 

Independence Movement in Ghana
In 1957, Ghana gained its independence and was awarded 200 million British pounds.  This was not easily won.  After World War II, Ghanaian leaders sought more direct control over their own country.  The most important people involved in this were Kwame Nkrumah and Dr. J. B. Danquah.  In 1947, Danquah formed the United Gold Coast Conversion to transform Ghana into an independent country.  Nkrumah was selected as the UGCC's general secretary.  But rivalries developed, and Nkrumah split off to form the Convention Peoples' Party in 1949.  Their slogan was "Self Government Now."  Nkrumah was jailed for protests when his party won 34 seats in the first general election (1951); the UGCC won 3 seats.  Nkrumah was released, and became Prime Minister in 1952.

Baffour Akoto, a linguist, formed the National Liberation Movement, which became the chief political rival to the CPP.  The NLM's main leader was Danquah.  The two parties both wanted independence, however, and in 1957, the country was free.  In their first elections, Nkrumah was chosen as the country's first President.  Also, as a new country, Ghana created its first national soccer team, and named it the Black Stars, after the black star on the country's new flag.  Another political party that was created in the 1950s was the Northern Peoples' Party.  The NPP is currently lead by Ghana's President Kuffour, elected in 2001.

Geography

• Capital: Ljubljana
• Other Cities: Koper, Nova Gorica, Kranj, Celje
• Landforms:
• Neighbors: Austria, Italy, Hungary, Croatia
• Climate: Continental climate with mild to hot summers and cold winters in the plateaus and valleys to the east.

• Currency: Tolar (sit)
• GDP (per capita): Purchasing power parity - $12,000 (2000)
• Labor force breakdown: 857,400
• Inflation rate: 8.9% (2000)
• Major exports: manufactured goods, machinery and transport equipment,

             chemicals, food
• Other industries:ferrous metallurgy and rolling mill products, aluminum reduction and

             rolled products, lead and zinc smelting, electronics (including military
             electronics), trucks, electric power equipment, wood products,
             textiles, chemicals, machine tools
• Trading partners: Germany 21%, Italy 17%, France 11%, Austria 8%, Croatia 4%, Hungary, Russia (1999)
• Debt: $ 6.2 Billion (2000)

Current Event

Star Player:  Charles Amoah

• Jersey #9
• Scored two goals in 5-0 victory in qualifying match against Sierra Leone, July 9, 2000.
• Played in Switzerland for several teams before playing for Sturm Graz in Austria (wears #33).
• Plays striker for most of the games he plays in.
• Interesting fact:  nickname is Bayie

Recently, Ghana played the World Cup squad from Slovenia in a friendly, losing 2-0 to the Slovenes, who are in the World Cup finals in Group B.  The Ghanaian national team is currently coached by Jabir Malik, but will soon be coached by Milan Zivadinovic.  Zivadinovic is excited about taking over the team in its preparation for the 2006 World Cup.  Zivadinovic is a man amidst controversy the last few years.  Interestingly, he has worked most of his coaching career in Yugoslavia, from which Slovenia gained its independence in 1991.  He was recently named coach of a club team in Serbia and Montenegro, but two months later, he signed on with the team from Ghana for 9000 euros ($8310) per month plus win bonuses. He has also coached the Iran and Saudia Arabia's national teams for short spells.  (source:   uefa.com )

Links

• Daily Graphic Online :  one of Ghana's daily newspapers, in English

• CIA World Factbook (Ghana) :  flag, geography, economy, and people section
• Bank of Canada Exchange rates :  recent currency exchange
• Republic of Ghana Homepage :  economic and people information
• The Transatlantic Slave Trade , Stephen Behrendt.  Africana.com
• History of Ghana , Ghana Web.