Commonwealth Leaders Visit Missionary Training Center in Accra, Ghana

On 5 October 2023, Members of Parliament (MP) from four countries visited the Missionary Training Center in Accra, Ghana. The leaders were in Accra, participating in the 66th Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference. MPs from Tanzania, Zambia, Ghana, and Australia had the opportunity to visit and interact with missionaries in their classrooms and study areas.

The Missionary Training Center in Accra, Ghana, was opened in 2017. The facility includes a five-story residence hall with 80 dormitory rooms. There are 28 classrooms, 18 practice teaching rooms and seven computer labs where missionaries receive training before they are sent to their assigned areas around the world. The Accra MTC can accommodate up to 320 missionaries.

There are 15 missionary training centers for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the world, where missionaries serving in the Church’s 421 missions receive training in 55 languages.

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The visit was organized by Australian Member of Parliament Elizabeth Kikkert, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Joining Kikkert on the tour was Hon. Dr. Alice Karungi Kaijage, MP from the United Republic of Tanzania, Hon. Misheck M. Nyambose, MP from the Republic of Zambia, Hon. Dr. Emmanuel Marfo, MP from the Republic of Ghana, and Hon. Gizell A. Tetteh-Agbouti, also an MP from Ghana.

Representing the Church was Elder Samuel Annan Simons, an Area Authority Seventy in the Accra Area. Elder Simons accompanied the dignitaries on a tour of the MTC’s facilities. He also had the opportunity to discuss the purpose of the missionary program of the Church and to answer any questions that they had.

President Mark O. Lords and Sister Gwen Lords of the Ghana Missionary Training Center welcomed the guests. The guests were also able to interact with the missionaries, some of whom came from their home countries.

A highlight of the tour was the MTC choir singing “Nearer my God to Thee” to the dignitaries. The MPs were able to sing along with the choir, with Dr. Kaijage singing in Swahili.

“Visiting the missionary training centre was a heartwarming journey of witnessing the dedication and faithfulness of these young men and women,” Kikkert said. “In the halls of the centre and in the classrooms, I found inspiration in every smile, and I felt the warmth of hearts committed to making the world a better place.”

Nyambose said, "I’m grateful to have experienced this place with my fellow colleagues from Africa’s parliaments. This is truly a place where young citizens are molded into extraordinary messengers of love and hope.” 

Dr. Kaijage added, "We had a beautiful and learning, informative tour around Church and teaching centre. I thank you for your generosity and altruism. I hope to learn more about your Church.”

Dr. Marfo talked about some of his past experiences with the Church, and said, "The tour was very instructive, and I was amazed at the level of organisation. I never knew that there was a missionary training facility in that beautiful compound, even though I drive pass the compound almost every day.”

“My interaction with the young men and women being trained was very interesting, especially when I asked them to explain to me what the Book of Mormon was all about and why the Bible was not sufficient? I was intrigued and asked for a copy of the book for which I have committed to read,” Dr. Marfo added.