Accra Ghana Temple Wiki

And Location Announcement

The building of the Accra Ghana Temple was announced on 16 February 1998 by President Gordon B. Hinckley. On the day of the announcement, at an outdoor gathering of some assembled members in Accra’s Independence Square, President Hinckley said, “You’ve gone a long time without a temple. When I was here five years ago [as a member of the First Presidency], we tried to find a place to build a temple. We didn’t find anything and we didn’t say anything to anybody. But efforts Monday, February 16, were more fruitful. This morning we approved the purchase of a beautiful piece of ground.”^[2]Steve Fidel, “A Temple to be Built in Ghana,” Church News, 21 February 1998.^[3]“Ghana Temple to Open Doors.”Church News, 4 October 2003. Accessed 24 November 2014^[4]“Pertinent Facts: Accra Ghana Temple.”  Church News, 17 January 2004. Accessed 24 November 2014

The date the renderr released has still not been identified by this site, though it may have been at the groundbreaking.

A site dedication and groundbreaking ceremony were held on Friday, 16 November 2001. Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles presided at the groundbreaking ceremony. The ceremony was intended to begin at 8:00 that morning, however, it was delayed 45 minutes while awaiting the arrival of the Vice President who had returned earlier that morning from New York and graciously accepted an invitation to attend. The combined Christiansborg and Lartebiorkoshie stake choir provided inspiring music while the crowd waited. Upon his arrival, the ceremony commenced. Elder Russell M. Nelson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, conducted the ceremony and gave the concluding remarks.

On 4 October 2003 the First Presidency announced the open house and dedication dates for the Accra Ghana Temple. The temple will be open to the public Wednesday, 3 December 2003, to Saturday, December 20, 2003, (except Sundays, December 7 & 14, 2003.) ^[10]”Ghana temple to open doors.” Church News 4 October 2003.

During the open house, more than 24,000 people were able to see the exquisite craftsmanship of the interior of the temple.^[11]Michael and Marged Kirkpatrick, “Ghana Temple opens,” Church News, 6 December 2003.

The Accra Ghana Temple was dedicated on 11 January 2004, by President Gordon B. Hinckley. Over 5,300 Church members attended at least one of the three dedicatory sessions. In his dedicatory prayer, President Hinckley expressed his profound gratitude: “We thank Thee for the brotherhood that exists among us, that neither color of skin nor land of birth can separate us as Thy sons and daughters who have taken upon us sacred and binding covenants.” He also petitioned, “Please cause that Thy Holy Spirit shall dwell within these walls at all times. … May it ever be a place of refuge from the noise and cares of the world.”^[16]“Ghana Temple to Open Doors.”Church News, 4 October 2003. Accessed 24 November 2014^[17]“Pertinent Facts: Accra Ghana Temple.”  Church News, 17 January 2004. Accessed 24 November 2014^[18]Gerry Avant, “Ghana Temple Brings Euphoria,” Church News, 17 January 2004.

On the return trip, President Hinckley’s wife, Marjorie Pay Hinckley fell ill. She would pass away four months later on 6 April 2004.^[19]Heaps, Julie Dockstader, “Marvelous miracle to see growing Church,” Church News, 12 August 2005

Prominently set on Independence Avenue in downtown Accra, the temple has been called one of the most magnificent buildings in the country. Ghanaian Church leader Charles Sono-Koree explained, “The temple is also a spiritual landmark, and demonstrates our love for the Lord Jesus Christ.”^[24]Charles Sono-Koree, quoted in “Ghana Temple Elegant Edifice of Commitment,” Church News, Dec. 6, 2003

The Accra Ghana Temple is located at 57 Independence Ave., North Ridge, Accra, Ghana. It is situated on six acres of beautifully landscaped grounds along the side of this major thorough fare.

Site

The grounds and their gardens are open to the public and feature native flowers and palm trees.

The Accra Ghana Temple is about 90 feet (27.43 meters) in height. It measures 147 feet (44.81 meters) wide, and 190 feet (57.91 meters) long. the temple is 17,500 square feet (1,625.8 square meters) in size.

Cladding

The exterior is made of granite quarried in Namibia, Africa, called Namibia Pearl.

Water Course

Windows

The windows an the temple are stained glass panels set into brushed brass colored metal frames. The Stained glass was created by Holdman Studios South.^[25]“Pertinent Facts: Accra Ghana Temple.”  Church News, 17 January 2004. Accessed 24 November 2014

Spandrel panel

The first is on the East most end of the temple, above the baptistry windows, facing East South East.

The inscription is in English, and is carved into the stone and painted black.

The second Inscription on the Accra Temple is above the north most edge of the covered entryway, faces North North East.

The inscription is in English, and is carved into the stone and painted black.

The cornerstone on the Accra Ghana Temple is on the North side of the North East corner of the temple.

The text on the cornerstone is engraved into the stone. Unlike the inscriptions, it is unpainted.

Spire

The temple employs a traditional design with a single spire. The single spire is offset towards the south-east along the long axis of the temple, and is centered along the width of the temple. It is clad with the same Namibian Pearl Granite as the rest of the temple, and features long and narrow stained-glass windows on each side. Each corner of the square center tower is flanked with 2 shorter towers of progressively shorter height.

An Angel Moroni Statue was placed atop the single spire of the temple on 17 April 2003. The Statue is a fiberglass replica of Karl Quilter’s 1985 10 foot statue. It is placed so that the feet face North East by East.

The interior of the Accra Ghana Temple measures 17,500 square feet

Included within the temple are a baptistry; instruction rooms, where patrons learn about Jesus Christ; a celestial room, symbolizing eternal life with God; and sealing rooms, where marriages are solemnized.

The interior of the Accra Ghana Temple showcases the beauty of traditional African craftsmanship and design. “Built by Africans from African materials, the Accra Ghana Temple is a landmark all Africans can be proud of,” said Marged Kirkpatrick, a Church member serving as a missionary in Ghana when the temple was dedicated. “Intricately crafted African granite was used for the floors, and native Makore wood for all the moldings. Carved carpets, beautiful murals of the Ghanaian countryside, handcrafted furniture and special art-glass windows all reflect an African influence.”^[26]Marged Kirkpatrick, quoted in “Church Members Celebrate 10th Anniversary of the Accra Ghana Temple Dedication,” Mormon Newsroom, Feb. 12, 2014.

The Entry and Waiting Area of the temple is directly under the spire of the temple, and sits between the Baptistry and First Instruction Room.

The Accra Ghana Temple has a single baptistry. It is located to the left of the main entrance of the temple, along the centerline of the structure, at the temple’s east end.

There is one initiatory spaces of the Temple are attached directly to the changing rooms. There is one Room per changing room area, for a total of 2 booths.

Each Room is partitioned into 4 progressive spaces.

On the other side of the entrance from the baptistry, are the temple’s two, progressive style instruction rooms.

Instruction Room A

The first instruction room is on the center line of the temple, Opposite the entrance from the Baptistry. Patrons will start a session in this room, and finish the session in the next. This walls of this first room are decorated with large murals depicting local flora and fauna.

Instruction Room B

Beyond the second instruction room, at the opposite end This room is also located on the centerline, between Instruction Room A and the Temple’s Celestial Room.

The Celestial Room, a place for prayer and meditation representing Heaven, is at the east end of the temple on the center line, next to Instruction Room A.

The Aba Temple has two sealing rooms, one each on either side of the Celestial room and Instruction Room B.

Holdman Studios South was the stained glass artist for this temple.^[30]“Pertinent Facts: Accra Ghana Temple.”  Church News, 17 January 2004. Accessed 24 November 2014Holdman Studios has done or redone art glass in most of the temples.