Accra Ghana Mormon Temple

The building of the Accra, Ghana Mormon temple was announced on February 16, 1998. Years before the temple was announced, President of the Mormon Church Gordon B. Hinckley had promised members in the area that if they fellowshipped new members they would be blessed with a temple. 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 and the 117th Mormon temple worldwide.

The first Mormon missionaries came to Ghana in 1978. It took only 25 years for a temple to be built there, which shows 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.

A site dedication and groundbreaking ceremony were held on November 16, 2001. Russell M. Nelson, a member of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, led 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 Mormon 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 total area of the temple is 17,500 square feet, which includes two ordinance rooms and two sealing rooms. During the construction of the temple, there were numerous problems in gaining the proper permits, which slowed the progress, but all obstacles were overcome.

The temple was opened to the public for guided tours December 3-20th 2003. During the tour people were able to see the exquisite craftsmanship utilized on 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 men in the area handcrafted the furniture and 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 Mormon temple on January 11, 2004. The temple serves members in Ghana, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Benin and the Ivory Coast.

Physical Address:
ACCRA GHANA TEMPLE COMPLEX
57 INDEPENDENCE AVE
NORTH RIDGE
P.M.B. CT 209, CANTONMENTS
Ghana

Mailing address:
c/o Africa West Area Office
POUCH
Ghana
Phone:   (233) 21-650-113

Other Links:

Temple: Information from Answers.com
Mormon Temple Ordinances – ReligionFacts.com
Mormanity: Mormon Temples and “Secrecy”
History of Mormon Temples – Lightplanet.com