Ghana Seventh-day Adventist history begins in documents and oral traditions with Francis Dolphjin of Apam and William Dawson of Fetteh-Gomoa respectfully, both in present-day Central Region of the country in the second half of the 19th century. Dolphjin officially pioneered it in January, 1888 when he abandoned his former Sunday-worshiping Methodism and accepted Saturday-Sabbath Seventh-day Adventism as his new faith in Jesus Christ, his Lord and Savior. Oral traditions credit Dawson with “pioneerism”.
From 1888 to the opening years of the 21st century, the combined efforts of indigenous believers and their foreign brothers and sisters, under the control and guidance of the Holy Spirit, have succeeded in bringing over half a million precious souls to Christ, the soon-coming King of kings and Lord of lords. In addition to the above-named pioneers, Seventh-day Adventist history in Ghana records key names like the following in the evolution of the story: George Grant, J.D. Hayford, Hannah More, Karl Rudolph, Edward Sanford, Dudley Hale, James Hyatt, Christian Ackah, Samuel Duncan-Morgue, John Garbrah, William Lewis, Kwaaku Kwaaten, Paul Ansa, Abraham Amponsa, Robert Mensa, Robert Antwi, Philip Kwabena, Yaw Kyereme, J.A. Sackey, Kwaame Donkor, Jesse Clifford, Amos Amofah, John Amoah, Charles Mensah, Jesse Gibson, David Agboka, Charles Clerk, Emmanuel Akyiano, John Kwaning (Kokofu), James Adu (Kokofu), Amos Okrah, David Akuoko, Paul Nsiah, Joseph Nimoh, Yaw Nimo, C. D. Henri, Th. Kristensen, Johnny Johnson, Owen Troy, Walton Whaley, Mary Afriyie, Evelyn Boateng, Pascal Latour, Kofi Owusu-Mensa, Paul Yeboah, Isaac Fordjour, Jacob Jonas (JJ) Nortey, Matthew Ango Bediako, Dr. Kwabena Donkor, Dr. Owusu-Antwi, Dr. Seth Laryea, Peter Mensah, Paul Asareh, Hermann Kuma, Solomon Opam, Ansah-Adu, Amos Kwasi Amofah, Charles Kyereme, Israel Agboka, Joseph Manu Margaret Osei, Emelia Kusi, Agnes Osei, Z. Sumani, T. K. Anane-Afari, Ambrose Waahu, Samuel Larmie, Joseph Hagan, Sarfo Ntim, and Agyeman Boateng.
Churches, schools, health institutions, a press, a university, a women’s center, and other facilities have grown with the history of the church in Ghana over the years. The Seventh-day Adventist Church in Ghana and elsewhere in the world lives to fulfill Christ’s GREAT COMMISSION to all His true followers to tell every human being in the world that God loves everybody and is about to end this world’s history and take all who believe in Jesus Christ and accept Him as their Savior home to live in joy, happiness, and peace with Him forever in heaven and in the earth made new (John 14: 1-3).
The other key message of this GREAT COMMISSION is that God commands all his true sons and daughters all over the world to honor and keep His true holy Seventh-day Sabbath, Saturday, which will be observed in His worship by the redeemed of all ages throughout eternity (Isaiah 66:22-24).
We live in the closing scenes of this world’s history (Matthew 24 and Luke 21). God will save us if we listen to Him through His messengers and surrender our lives to Him in love and obedience for now and forever.
Source:
Book: GHANA SEVENTH-DAY ADVENTISM: A HISTORY
Accra: Advent Press, 2005, 416 pages.
Author: Professor Kofi Owusu-Mens
Seventh-day Adventist World Church Statistics