In its efforts to help prevent gender-based violence and sexual harassment of any kind, The Ghana Immigration Service (GIS) celebrated International Women’s Day with an educational program held at the Accra Ghana Christiansborg Stake Center. The Church offered the venue to GIS as it launched its “Protection from Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment” (PSEAH) policy, the first policy of its kind for any security institution in all of Africa.
The Christianborg Stake Center hosted the GIS International Women's Day program on 10 March, 2025.
The Christiansborg Stake Center hosted the GIS International Women's Day program on 10 March, 2025.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.According to Christian Afadi, Senior Assistant Temple Facilities Manager for the Church in Ghana, the Comptroller-General of the GIS wrote a letter petitioning use of the stake center, which is located a short distance down the street from their GIS headquarters. The Church has established some good government relations by making the stake center available to various Government agency events in the past, including events for Ghana's Education and Health agencies as well as previous events for the GIS. So in addressing the most recent request of the GIS, it was largely a matter of ensuring that the stake center would be available on the requested day. The request was submitted to the appropriate committee for review, and after checking with the stake president, the Area Facilities manager, and coordinating with the temple compound security, the GIS was granted permission.
The stake center is located within the Ghana Temple compound, next to the Accra Temple, so anyone using the stake center also sees the temple and has an opportunity to walk around the temple grounds and feel of its spirit. Many of the attendees took time to get photographs of themselves in front of the temple. When asked about their experience coming to the Church grounds, several attendees offered their thanks for the use of the stake center as well as admiration for the beauty of the surroundings. Officer Kwabena Sarfo-Sika, who has been to events at the stake center in years past, expressed gratitude for the Church’s ongoing support of their initiatives and then, with a smile, quipped “Maybe I will have to come and see you. Maybe you will make me a church member—I’ll be very glad.”
Ghana Immigration Serevice officials conduct Sexual harassment prevention training in Christianborg Stake Center on 10 March, 2025.
Ghana Immigration Service officials conduct Sexual harassment prevention training in Christiansborg Stake Center on 10 March, 2025.© 2025 by Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved.Aside from helping build better relationships with government agencies and with the community at large, the Church’s support of the GIS Women’s Day program also aligned with its goals of empowering women and girls with rights to protection, equality, and respect.
Although the GIS is primarily responsible for foreigners coming into and residing within the country, their support services for sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse is available to everyone in Ghana through a website and a help line. They collaborate with police to ensure that there is safety and protection for all who might need it.