Early Ghana Pioneers Reunite, Testimonies Strengthened 

The first African Latter-day Saints in Ghana exemplified patience and faith amongst great opposition in the 1960s and 1970s as they petitioned Church leaders and waited for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to be officially organized in 1978. On August 5 and 6, members in Ghana gathered for a reunion to honor and learn from the early Ghana pioneers. They also commemorated the 10-year anniversary of the passing of early church leader, Joseph W. “Billy” Johnson as a time to remember their shared history, which includes much of the early history of the Church in Ghana. The reunion was organized by the Johnson family and held near Twifo-Praso. 

During the gathering, early pioneers, families, friends, and members of the Church shared their experiences of the Church’s early days in Ghana. Memories were recalled, emotions were drawn, and hearts sunk in utmost gratitude and joy for the restored gospel.  

Alex Duodu, shared how remembering re-kindled his testimony. 

“As one of the early people to serve a full-time mission on this land, I know that missionary work is indeed divine, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is true, and the leaders are truly called of God,” Duodo said. “No unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing. I testify that we have a living prophet in the name of Russell M. Nelson, and if we strive to obey his teachings and directions, we may inherit the Kingdom of God someday.” 

The Church in Ghana took a magnificent and quite a remarkable work of efforts before coming to fruition. The efforts of the early Ghanaian saints are ones that cannot for any reason erase from the minds of both the new and older generation. 

To learn more about the history of the early saints in Ghana and other countries visit: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/history/global-histories/ghana/gh-overview?lang=eng