“Can you hear it?” That question hangs in the air as we stand before the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Accra. It is not just the sounds of Accra. It is the echoes of a faith that took root here in West Africa over a century ago. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church stands as a testament to resilience, growth, and the enduring power of belief in Ghana.
Let us journey back to 1894. Two missionaries, Edward L. Sanford and Karl G. Rudolph, arrived in Apam. They brought with them the seeds of Adventism. Imagine their determination facing unfamiliar territory and challenges. Malaria forced Sanford to leave, but Rudolph persevered. He moved to Cape Coast, a pivotal moment for the church.
Cape Coast became the headquarters of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in West Africa in 1895. Dudley Upton Hale, a superintendent from Texas, arrived with a team. The team included George and Eva Kerr both nurses and G. P. Riggs a colporteur. Rudolph welcomed them. Hale’s leadership was brief. He departed in 1897. Yet, his impact was undeniable.
Consider March 27, 1897. It was a landmark day. Hale performed the first Seventh-day Adventist baptism in West Africa. Francis I. U. Dolphijn, Fred and Isaac Dolphijn, and George Peter Grant were baptized. These men, along with Dawson, spread Adventism along Ghana’s coast.
In 1907, Christian Ackah Snr established the first school based on Adventist principles in Cape Coast. This marked the beginning of Adventist education in Ghana. Ackah introduced Adventism to his hometown Kikam. Kikam became the church’s headquarters in Ghana from 1908.
Pause for a moment. Think about the dedication of these early educators and missionaries. They laid the foundation for the Seventh-Day Adventist Church’s growth. They established schools and spread their faith.
In April 1915, William Lewis spearheaded pioneering work in Agona, Asante. Nana Kwame Boakye, the paramount chief, gave land for a house and school. The school became a central hub for education. J. K. Garbrah of Shama became the first Ghanaian minister ordained into the Gospel Ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The ordination occurred in Waterloo, Sierra Leone in 1921.
The Advent Press began in 1938. F.L. Stokes invited Emmanuel T. Abbey to manage the press. It started in Asokore, moved to Bekwae, then Nigeria. Finally, it settled in Accra. In 1939, the first SDA Teacher Training College opened at Bekwae.
January 1946 saw the West African Union Mission move its headquarters to Osu, Accra. Jesse O. Gibson became the head. In 1955, the Kwahu Hospital was established in Atibie. It addressed the medical needs of the people.
In 1970, the Ghana Mission became the Ghana Conference of SDA. J. K. Amoah was the first President. Kumasi remained the headquarters. The Adventist Missionary College was established in Adentan, Accra in 1979. It later became Valley View University.
In January 2000, Ghana was organized into the Ghana Union Conference. Accra remained the headquarters. P. O. Mensah became the first President. The Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Accra stands as a beacon. It represents the culmination of years of devotion, education, and community service. As we stand here, remember the pioneers. Remember their sacrifices and their unwavering commitment. Their legacy lives on in every hymn sung and every lesson taught within these walls.