Accra Ghana Temple
The building of the Accra Ghana Temple was announced on 16 February 1998 by President Gordon B. Hinckley. The announcement came after he had challenged members to make a special effort to fellowship new converts to the Church. He told the members, "Put your arms around them, make them feel at home. Teach them the doctrines of the kingdom. Befriend them and help them in every way possible. I make you a promise that if you will do that you will be blessed with a temple in your midst." When the temple was announced, President Hinckley also told those in attendance that the Church had been trying to find a place to build a temple in Ghana for five years. The Accra Ghana Temple was the second temple built in Africa, following the Johannesburg South Africa Temple (1985).
Contents
Missionary Work Begins in Ghana
The first Mormon missionaries were called to serve in Ghana in 1978. It took only 25 years for a temple to be built there, which demonstrates how quickly the membership of the Mormon Church has grown in the area. Many of the people present at the announcement of the temple had been some of the first converts in Ghana, and most expressed their amazement at how far the Church had come in the area.
Site Dedication and Groundbreaking Ceremony
A site dedication and groundbreaking ceremony were held on November 16, 2001. Russell M. Nelson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, conducted the ceremony. The vice president of Ghana, as well as other officials, participated in the groundbreaking ceremony, and a radio station and Ghana Television covered the event. The Accra Ghana Temple sits on 6 acres on the main avenue that runs through the center of Accra. The exterior of the temple is made of Namibia Pearl Granite.
The temple was open to the public December 3-20th 2003. During the tour, people were able to see the exquisite craftsmanship of the interior of the temple. All of the materials used in the building of the temple were from the area. Moldings in the temple were made of the native makore wood. Skilled local artisans handcrafted the furniture, and the art-glass windows reflect the culture. The vice president of Ghana, as well as many other officials, took tours through the temple.
President of the Mormon Church, Gordon B. Hinckley, dedicated the Accra Ghana Temple on January 11, 2004. The temple serves members in Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Benin, and the Ivory Coast. The Accra Ghana Temple has a total of 17,500 square feet, two ordinance rooms, and two sealing rooms.
