Statement of Research Plan I am attending the AU 2063 Cornell Course in Ghana to further my research on precolonial economic history in West Africa that I began in my senior thesis. My thesis explored the commodities such as cereals, gold, textiles, copper, and salt that West African kingdoms produced, demanded, and exchanged to fuel the growth of their polities. I hope to extend the research to consider how the political and economic landscape of West Africa today relies on both production and exchange to thrive. While colonization and neocolonialism have broadly shaped economic disparities in Africa today, what intra-African trade relationships exist to support local economic success? I will complete the course with professor Assié-Lumumba to learn more about economic development efforts, but will also engage with resources at the University of Ghana to learn more about precolonial economics and connections with the Sahara.