Kwame Nkrumah ordered 500,000 Bibles

...to be used in Ghanaian Schools

Accra, Sept. 23, GNA - President of the First Republic, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who was accused of relying on Kankan Nyame, a fetish in Guinea, ordered more than 500,000 copies of the Bible for use in Ghanaian schools.

A release from the Bible Society of Ghana signed by the Rev Francis Botchwey, Senior Media Officer, on Friday, said the ordering of the more than half a million copies of the Revised Standard Version of the Bible for schools and colleges was unparalleled.

The release, which was in connection with the arrival of the Secretary General and Chief Executive of the United Bible Societies (UBS) Global Fellowship, the Rev. Miller Milloy in Ghana next week to participate in a meeting of the Africa Area Board (AFAB), said Ghana had been a beacon of hope for other national Bible Societies across the African Continent.

The release said the Ga Bible and Akuapem Twi Bibles are among the oldest translated local language Scriptures in Africa. Ghana has also spearheaded notable UBS sponsored projects including the audio scripture listening programme and radio Bible broadcast, which have since been embraced and adapted in Africa and other parts of the world.

The meeting, which the Rev. Gerrit Kritzinger, the Global Board Chairman, would chair, is scheduled for September 26 to September 30. Board Members and observers from several African countries are expected to attend the meeting.

It would discuss key issues affecting the Bible Societies' work. These would include the newly introduced Funding Reform and an Epicor (software) project; the restructuring of the service organisation; human resource development and the effective means of translating, publishing and distributing the scriptures in Africa. The release said next week's AFAB meeting would be very significant to Ghana because it comes on the heels of the appointment of Mr David Nii Ayi Hammond as the Secretary of the UBS Africa Region. It also coincides with the 40th anniversary celebration of the Bible Society in Ghana.

The meeting is also being held in Ghana in recognition of her immense contributions to the UBS Global Fellowship. The UBS comprises 141 affiliated national Bible societies and has offices operating in more than 200 countries and territories around the world.