• Is Unity Possible Among All Ethnic Groups?
    The Watchtower—1971 | February 15

    • ACCRA AND KUMASI, GHANA

      Ghana, formerly called the “Gold Coast,” still produces gold and diamonds, but the chief export is cacao, the source of cocoa and chocolate. Lake Volta, the world’s largest man-made lake, is located in east-central Ghana. The capital city, Accra, and the second-largest city, Kumasi, were the sites for two conventions in this country. More than fifty languages and dialects are spoken in Ghana, though six, including Twi, Ewe and Ga, predominate. English is the official language.

      The visitors appreciated the beautiful, brightly colored garments of kente cloth worn by both men and women. They also noted that the “Afro” hairstyle is not the general style in Africa. The women in Ghana, for instance, divide their hair into sections, winding black thread around each tuft, in the nature of short braids. They give names to each style, such as “Corn Row,” “Mother Popcorn,” the “Y,” and so forth.

      There are 289 congregations in Ghana, made up of 14,363 active ministers of Jehovah’s witnesses. A crowd of 14,526 at the Accra Race Course heard the public address “Saving the Human Race​—in the Kingdom Way,” given on the second day by M. G. Henschel. On the final day, N. H. Knorr gave the closing remarks, delighting the conventioners by announcing that sometime in the near future The Watchtower may be printed in three languages right in their own country, instead of being mailed from abroad.

      The North American delegates to the assembly at Kumasi, Ghana, were greatly moved by the spontaneous welcome. As two busloads of visitors arrived, shouts of joy and a roar of applause broke out from the 18,000 then assembled. Hundreds lined up to shake hands and personally welcome them. For the public talk at Kumasi, the Sports Stadium was filled with an audience of 24,960, and 662 new ministers were baptized.