British West Africa
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British West Africa was the administrative name for British colonies in West Africa during the colonial period. The colonies included in the designiation included Sierra Leone, Nigeria, the Gambia and the Gold Coast (Ghana). The United Kingdom colonised varying parts of these territories from the late 1780s until the 1960s and generally administered them as a single entity. From 1907 to 1962, a single currency, the West African Pound, was in effect throughout the region.
Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Sierra Leone was self-governing by 1958 and gained independence in 1960. Gambia gained independence in 1965. In 1954, the Gold Coast was allowed by Britain to self-govern and in 1957, the Gold Coast was given independence from Britain, under the name Ghana.
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