Conferences in Ghana Focus on Young Single Adults

Hundreds of young members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Ghana gathered at four separate ‘Young Single Adult’ (YSA) conferences in June, July and August.

Based in Cape Coast, Kumasi and Accra, the conferences were designed to boost faith and fellowship for 18- to 30-year-old single adults and include opportunities to take part in a variety of social, service, and gospel learning activities.

“Young single adults in Ghana make up a significant portion of overall membership in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints,” said Cynthia Call, senior missionary advising the YSA programs, who attended the conferences. “During this time in their lives, activities like these help singles gain confidence in making their most important life decisions, including marriage, education, career, friendships, Church activity, and their relationships with Heavenly Father and the Savior Jesus Christ.”

Cape Coast

University of Cape Coast was the venue for over 700 members of the Church who participated at the event on June 27-28. Along with workshops and guest speakers, several activities were offered during the two-day gathering, including a fun cultural program where many of the young adults enthusiastically shared their talents.

“The stage performances were great,” said Jacob Ewudzie, director of the Cape Coast conference. “We witnessed a lot of talent, skills and creativity that night.”

Ewudzie said one of the main objectives of the conference was to create “good interactions and associations” for this large group of young single adults.

“There was plenty of time to develop nice relationships and new friendships as the young adults took part in the planned activities,” he added. 

Kumasi

425 participants at the Kumasi YSA conference came together at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology on July 24-26 to enjoy games, group competitions, entertainment and educational workshops.  

The theme for the event, Learn Wisdom in thy Youth, was showcased in the topics chosen for the workshops, which included “Self-Management,” “Keeping Gospel Standards,” “Courtship and Eternal Marriage,” and “Preparing for Honorable Employment.” Elder Terence M. Vinson, senior leader of the Church in the area, also counseled the young single adults to pattern their lives after the Savior Jesus Christ and other pillars in the scriptures.

When asked to comment on the three-day conference in Kumasi, many participants described it as a memorable event and they hoped that more would follow in the future.

Accra

Because of the large number of members of the Church in the greater Accra area, two YSA conferences – Accra and Accra West – were planned to accommodate all who wanted to attend.

Emelia Amoah-Kpentey participated in the Accra conference held on July 17-19 at the University of Ghana, Legon. Over 600 young single adults attended that weekend, where everyone looked forward to spending time with each other in a friendly and relaxed environment.

“A beautiful aspect of the event was the fact that we had three days to mingle and make friends,” Amoah-Kpentey said. “Old friendship ties were reinforced and new friends were made.”

Three workshops were also provided at the Accra conference to strengthen the young adults. “Guest speakers gave excellent presentations on how to battle life’s challenges, using agency wisely, and setting correct priorities,” she said.

On July 31-August 2, Methodist University College in Dansoman housed 450 young single adults attending the Accra West conference. An orientation assembly and get-acquainted games followed registration as people continued to arrive that first morning.

A rotation of workshops and activities kept participants busy at the conference. Morning devotionals, a movie and dance, preparation and rehearsals for a talent show, and a closing devotional where those attending expressed their feelings about the events of the weekend all added up to a positive and uplifting experience.

Larry Kitson-Mills, director of Accra West conference, commended the various committees for their dedication in ensuring that the program was a success. “The aim for this gathering was achieved and we hope to improve on subsequent events,” he said.