Ghana, formerly referred to as the Gold Coast, attained its independence on Wednesday 6th March 1957 and its republican status on Friday 1st July 1960.

Over the years, it has witnessed immense changes in its economic, political, social and even religious spheres.

Some persons have contributed in no small way to these changes. YEN.com.gh brings you 10 Ghanaians who have helped shaped the story the country.

The late Daniel Augustus Lartey

Popularly referred to as Dan Lartey, he was the 2010 presidential candidate of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP).

He is known to have established a number of businesses, including the Lartey and Lartey Books and Stationary.

It became the precursor to Ghana Book Supply. He passed away in the year 2009.

The late Jake Otanka Obetsebi Lamptey

He was a politician, as well as a television and radio producer. He excelled in both private practice and in politics.

He held a number of positions in both his party (New Patriotic Party) and the government. He died in the year 2016.

The late Kwadwo Baah Wiredu

He was a Ghanaian politician and a Chartered Accountant.

In 2005 he was the first Finance Minister in Ghana's history to present the country's Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament before the arrival of that fiscal year with his budget for the fiscal year 2006.

Since then, it has become a norm for all successive Finance Ministers. He died in the year 2008.

Richard Kwame Peprah Richard

Peprah is a former Ghanaian politician. He served in the Government of Ghana from 1983 till 2001.

He served in the capacity of minister of Mines and Energy from 1993 to 1995 and as a minister of Finance from 1995 to 2001.

Ama Benyiwa-Doe

Ama Benyiwa-Doe is a Ghanaian politician. She was christened Comfort Saah. She served as a member of parliament from 1992 to 2004.

She also served as the Central regional minister in 2009. She is a member of the Pan-African parliament.

Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings

Jerry John Rawlings is a former head of state and president of Ghana. He ruled as a military head from 1979 till 1992, when the country adopted the democratic form of government.

He went ahead to win the elections and handed over to John Agyekum Kufuor in the year 2000.

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah

Kwame Nkrumah was a Ghanaian politician and revolutionary. He was the first prime minister and president of Ghana, having led it to independence from Britain in 1957.

He was deposed in 1966 by the National Liberation Council. Nkrumah lived the rest of his life in Guinea, of which he was named honorary co-president.

Prof. John Evans Fiifi Atta Mills

He was a Ghanaian politician and legal scholar who served as President of Ghana from 2009 to 2012.

Previously he was Vice-President from 1997 to 2001 under President Jerry Rawlings.

He is the first Ghanaian head of state to die in office.

John Kofi Agyekum Kufuor

John Kufuor is a Ghanaian politician who was President of Ghana from 7 January 2001 to 7 January 2009.

He was a minister in Kofi Abrefa Busia's Progress Party government during Ghana's Second Republic, and a Popular Front Party opposition frontbencher during the Third Republic.

In the Fourth Republic he stood as the New Patriotic Party's candidate at the 1996 election, and then led it to victory in 2000 and 2004.

Eric Charles Kofi Wayo

Charles Kofi Wayo is an international businessman. He sells guns to clients all over the world, except Africa Charles loves cars and collects them as an investment.

To date, he has 19 cars, five of them Rolls Royce. He loves walking, baseball and theatre especially KSM.