Ghana’s President Expresses Thanks for Humanitarian Services

In a meeting with the First Presidency, the president of the Republic of Ghana, John A. Kufuor, expressed appreciation for the Church’s humanitarian and religious contributions to his nation. “We consider you as part of Ghana,” he told President Gordon B. Hinckley; President Thomas S. Monson, First Counselor in the First Presidency; and President James E. Faust, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, during a visit to Salt Lake City in September.

Visiting the United States to attend United Nations General Assembly meetings, President Kufuor traveled to Utah with several other officials to discuss economic development with local government and community leaders. While there, he visited Church leaders and toured Church sites, including Welfare Square, Temple Square, and the Conference Center.

President Kufuor thanked the Church for humanitarian efforts and employment services in his country. The Church has sponsored more than 140 humanitarian projects in Ghana during the past 15 years.

In return, President Hinckley invited President Kufuor to the open house of the Accra Ghana Temple, scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2003. He also thanked President Kufuor for cooperating with the Church.

“It was a very mutually beneficial visit, as well as an opportunity to express thanks and appreciation,” said Elder H. Bruce Stucki of the Seventy, former President of the Africa West Area.

The Church has five stakes and an estimated 20,000 members in Ghana. Currently under construction are a temple, temple patron housing, a stake center, and an area office building.

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John A. Kufuor, president of Ghana, tours the Conference Center during a recent visit to Salt Lake City. Here he is accompanied by Norman D. Shumway, director of Church hosting. (Photograph by Tom Smart/Deseret News.)