Description

The Accra Ghana Temple is a temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints built in the city of Accra, in the nation of Ghana, on the continent of Africa. It is the culmination of years of waiting and praying by Ghanaian members. Prior to the Dedication of the Accra Ghana Temple members had to travel to either the London England Temple or the Johannesburg South Africa Temple to receive temple blessings.^[1]Gerry Avant, “Ghana Temple Brings Euphoria,” Church News, 17 January 2004.

The temple serves over 57,000 Church members in Ghana, as well as patrons from Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast), Liberia, Benin and Togo.

History

The history of the Church in Ghana traces back to the 1950s, when the Ghanaian people began reading copies of the Book of Mormon and other Church literature. As a result of personal study, many were converted to the teachings found therein and began forming their own Latter-day Saint congregations based on the doctrine they learned. In 1978, two missionary couples arrived in Ghana, and soon after, the Church began to formally organize the congregations into official branches of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

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

Local Church members received the news with jubilation. Ezra Sekyere, a member from Ghana, recalled, “It was an unforgettable day. … The spontaneity with which the announcement was greeted was so infectious. It was like an electric current had run through all of us.”^[5]Ezra Sekyere, quoted in “Church Members Celebrate 10th Anniversary of the Accra Ghana Temple Dedication,” Mormon Newsroom, Feb. 12, 2014,

Prior to the Accra Ghana Temple’s dedication, only a few hundred Mormons in the area had been able to journey to temples in Johannesburg, South Africa, and London, England. The erection of a West African temple made temple blessings accessible to faithful Church members throughout the region. Joseph William Billy Johnson, one of the earliest converts to the Church in Ghana, explained, “We kept praying and fasting, asking that the Lord would open the door to the temple some day. … I was so happy when President Hinckley announced there would be a temple. … There was jubilation that day. All the members were so happy.”^[6]Joseph William Billy Johnson, quoted in Gerry Avant, “‘Best Day of My Life’ — Members Exult Over Temple,” Church News, Jan. 17, 2004.

Toby W. Tweh, a Church member from Liberia, added, “This is a happy time; I am so happy. … This temple in Accra will bring relief to us because there are so many members who want to go to the temple but they don’t have the money to go all the way to South Africa [or the United Kingdom].”^[7]Toby W. Tweh, quoted in Gerry Avant, “‘Best Day of My Life’ — Members Exult Over Temple,” Church News, Jan. 17, 2004,

Groundbreaking

Groundbreaking followed with participation by Elder Nelson, the Vice President, stake presidents, and other dignitaries. The event was covered by a local radio station and Ghana Television^[8]“Ground broken for First Temple in West Africa,” Church News, 24 November 2001.^[9]“Ghana Temple to Open Doors.”Church News, 4 October 2003. Accessed 24 November 2014^[10]“Pertinent Facts: Accra Ghana Temple.”  Church News, 17 January 2004. Accessed 24 November 2014^[11]Dossoumon, Joel. “Accra Ghana Temple Groundbreaking.” Online posting. 18 November 2001. Accessed 8 October 2002 .

Fifteen months after presiding over the groundbreaking ceremony for the Accra Ghana Temple, Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles returned to the construction site while on assignment to Ghana and Nigeria in February 2003. Ghanian Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, who broke ground for the temple with Elder Nelson, met with the apostle in the Osu Castle. Elder Nelson says, “We have a very good relationship.”^[12]Julie Dockstader Heaps. “Saints in West Africa await temples: Elder Nelson visits Ghana and Nigeria.” Church News 1 Mar. 2003: 7.

Open House

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, December 3, 2003, to Saturday, December 20, 2003, . The temple will be dedicated in three sessions on Sunday, January 11, 2004.^[13]”Ghana temple to open doors.” Church News 4 October 2003.

The temple was open for tours by the general public 3-20 December 2003 (except Sundays, December 7 & 14, 2003.) During the open house, more than 24,000 people were able to see the exquisite craftsmanship of the interior of the temple.^[14]Michael and Marged Kirkpatrick, “Ghana Temple opens,” Church News, 6 December 2003.

Ghanaian President, John A. Kufuor, toured the temple and expressed his opinion that the presence of a temple in Accra would enhance the nation’s spirituality. The Vice President of Ghana, as well as many other officials, also took tours through the temple.^[15]“Ghana Temple to Open Doors.”Church News, 4 October 2003. Accessed 24 November 2014^[16]“Pertinent Facts: Accra Ghana Temple.”  Church News, 17 January 2004. Accessed 24 November 2014^[17]Michael and Marged Kirkpatrick, “Open House ends at Accra Temple,” Church News, 20 December 2003

Upon attending the open house, Ghanaian president John A. Kufuor expressed his opinion that the presence of a temple in Accra would enhance the nation’s spirituality. Many other visitors came away from the open house with similar sentiments.

Cultural Celebration

The tradition of holding a youth cultural celebration before the dedication of a temple began with the dedication of the Accra Ghana Temple at the request of President Gordon B. Hinckley. A cultural celebration titled “A Day of Celebration” was held on 10 January 2004, one day before the temple’s dedication. Church leaders, members and special guests, including tribal leaders, gathered at the Accra Sports Stadium as a cast of nearly 2,000 youth performed through song and dance.^[18]Gerry Avant, “Bright Day for Youth in Ghana,” Church News, 17 January 2004.

Dedication

Charlotte Abankwa, who sang in the choir during the temple’s dedication, expressed the feelings of so many present that day: “I am humbled and happy,” she explained. “I don’t know how to express myself. I shed tears when we sang ‘How Great Thou Art,’ but I kept smiling. I couldn’t stop. How could anyone not smile on a day like this?”^[22]Charlotte Abankwa, quoted in Gerry Avant, “‘Best Day of My Life’ — Members Exult Over Temple,” Church News, Jan. 17, 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.^[23]Heaps, Julie Dockstader, “Marvelous miracle to see growing Church,” Church News, 12 August 2005

Dedicatory Prayer

Dedication Order

The Accra Ghana Temple was the first operating temple in West Africa and the 117th in the world.  It was the second temple built in Africa, following the Johannesburg South Africa Temple, in 1985.

At the time of its dedication, there were 6 temples under construction; 6 temples that had been announced and awaiting groundbreaking; and 3 temples undergoing renovation.

Presidents

President	Matron	Years
John Kodwo Buah	Augustina Anita Danso Buah	2021–
Gary Mont Parke	Helen Butterfield Parke	2018–2021
Stephen LaMar Graham	Vanessa Jane Schofield Graham	2015–2018
George Bondzie Afful[24]New Temple Presidents.” Church News, 22 April 2012. Accessed 24 November	Victoria Beatrice Dampson Afful	2012–2015
Julian Paul Breillatt Jr.[25]“New Temple Presidents.” Church News, 18 July 2009. Accessed 24 November	Gaye Sorensen Breillatt	2009–2012
John Cottam Riding[26]“New Temple Presidents.” Church News, 15 July 2006. Accessed 24 November	Naomi Meservy Riding	2006–2009
Grant Gunnell[27]“New Temple Presidents.” Church News, 27 September 2003. Accessed 24 November	Alice Petersen Gunnell	2003–2006

Details

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.”^[28]Charles Sono-Koree, quoted in “Ghana Temple Elegant Edifice of Commitment,” Church News, Dec. 6, 2003

TEMPLES IN AFRICA _{by country}

Angola	1	Luanda
Cabo Verde	1	Praia
DRC	4	Kananga · Kinshasa · Lubumbashi · Mbuji-Mayi
Ghana	3	Accra · Cape Coast · Kumasi
Ivory Coast	1	Abidjan
Kenya	1	Nairobi
Liberia	1	Monrovia
Madagascar	1	Antananarivo
Mozambique	1	Beira · Maputo
Nigeria	5	Aba · Abuja · Benin City · Calabar · Eket · Lagos
ROC	1	Brazzaville
Sierra Leone	1	Freetown
South Africa	3	Cape Town · Durban · Johannesburg
Uganda	1	Kampala
United Arab Emirates	1	Dubai
Zimbabwe	1	Harare

Exterior

Symbolism

Inscriptions

East End

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There are 2 Inscriptions on the Accra Ghana Temple.

North Side

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Cornerstone

Spires and Moroni

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.

Finial

Interior

Services Rooms

The temple has no food services and no clothing rental.

Entry/Waiting Area

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.

Baptistry

Initiatory Spaces

Instruction Rooms

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.

Sealing

Brides Room

The Brides room is located off the Women’s Changing room. It is a place where women being married in the temple that day can prepare both for their sealing ceremony, and for the rest of the day after leaving the temple.

Individuals and Contractors

Project Manager

Architect

While the general design and layout of the temple was designed by the Church’s Special Projects Department, the localization of the plans (converting plans for local measurements and code systems) and design was done by ARUP.^[32]“Pertinent Facts: Accra Ghana Temple.”  Church News, 17 January 2004. Accessed 24 November 2014 To date, this is the only Temple designed by this Architect.

General Contractor

Taysec Construction Ltd was the general contractor.^[33]“Pertinent Facts: Accra Ghana Temple.”  Church News, 17 January 2004. Accessed 24 November 2014 To date, this is the only Temple built by this contractor.

Art Glass

Holdman Studios South was the stained glass artist for this temple.^[34]“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.

Additional Articles

• Accra Ghana Impressions – Meridian magazine

Sources