After gaining independence from Great Britain, Ghana faced a problem that is common among newly-formed countries. This is the fact that when a colonist power leaves the country, it often leads to a breakdown of politics and institutions. Ghanians did not have an established political system to replace the British one, and this meant that Ghana was politically instable for the next few decades.
Political instability led to a slowdown of the economy, as foreign investors left and businessmen became uncertain of the future. This shows that political stability and strong institutions are absolutely necessary for economic growth to take place.