News Release

Twenty Third Stake Organized in Ghana

95th Stake created in Africa West Area

Elder Marcus B. Nash, first counselor in the Africa West Area Presidency, presided over the semi-annual conference of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Accra Ghana Adenta Stake (group of congregations) held January 20 and 21, 2018.

As part of the conference, the Adenta Stake was divided due to extraordinary growth in membership. Daniel Kabason was released as President of Adenta Stake, as were his counselors. With the leadership reorganization of Adenta Stake, the Accra Ghana Madina Stake was created. The new Madina Stake is the 23rd stake created in Ghana. It is also the 95th stake organized in West Africa since the Church was introduced in 1978.

 

The new Adenta Stake president called is Michel Djimedo Avegnon, with first counselor James Belale Yeri, and Richard Paapa Dadzie as second counselor. Samuel Enos Eghan was called as president of the Madina Stake. Yaw Adjin Danso will serve as first counselor, with Edwin Kobina Ewudzie as second counselor of the Madina Stake.

Elder Marcus B. Nash commented on the historic Sunday morning event. “This conference was a sweet confluence of the faith of the pioneer members, current members, as well as the faith of the rising generation,” Elder Nash said.   

“We enjoyed the simple and powerful testimony of Brother Opare, the first stake president in Accra,” said Elder Nash. “As a result of the humility and faith of those who have gone before, the faithful labors of inspired and capable leaders today, and with the help of parents and children who choose to obey the Lord, the Adenta and Medina stakes will contribute in miraculous ways to the Church, both in Africa and throughout the world.”

Elder Nash was accompanied by Elder Anthony Quaisie, Area Seventy for the Church, who resides in Accra, Ghana.

Congregations of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are organized geographically and members attend worship services near their home. Each member belongs to a stake, which is similar to a Catholic diocese in size and is comprosed of 6-12 adjacent congregations.

On April 21, 1991 the first two stakes of the Church were created in Ghana. There were approximately 8,000 members of the Church in the country at that time. Twenty seven years later, Church membership in Ghana has grown to 78,295, as of January 15, 2018.

Emmanuel Ohene-Opare, an Adenta resident and president of the first stake in Ghana attended the conference on Sunday, as did many other early Church pioneers.

“It is hard to imagine in the short space of 25 years the Church in Ghana has grown so much,” said Emmanuel Ohene-Opare.

“Ghanaians believe in God. When they hear the truth, it sounds in their souls and they are moved to action.” Opare said.

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