By Patrick Ofoe Nudzi
Accra, March 28, GNA – The Akrofi-Christaller Institute (ACI) of Theology, Mission and Culture has unveiled ‘Basel House’, a community of faith, learning, and mission, ushering in a new era of theological education, research, and community engagement in Ghana.
The Basel House, situated at Akuapem-Akropong, in the Eastern Region, is not just a brick and mortar relic of history but a building that embodies their past, present and future and a monument of faith, a testimony of sacrifice and a bridge between generation.
Dating back to the mid 19th century, the edifice known as Akrofi-Christaller Memorial Center for Mission Research and Applied Theology, is now Akrofi-Christaller Institute which stands as a silent witness to the early missionary activities that planted the seeds of Christianity, education and social transformation in Ghana.
Rev Prof Philip Tetteh Laryea, Rector, ACI, said unveiling the Basel House in the heart of Ghana’s heritage month, meant a bold statement that their faith was not disconnected from their identity, adding that Christianity in Ghana had become an important tradition owned, indigensed and carried forward by Ghanaian believers.
“We cannot speak of Basel House without recalling the pioneering Ghanaian Christians including David Asante, Carl Christian Reindorf, Theophilus Opoku and others who worked alongside the missionaries. And it is about celebrating the resilience, faith and intellectual contributions of our own people,” he said.
Rev Prof Laryea said the unveiling was part of the larger initiative, the ‘Heritage Sites and Monuments Project’, launched in 2019 by the Akrofi-Christaller Institute, a project birthed out of the growing awareness that many of their historical church sites, documents and artifacts, were at risk of being lost to time.
He said the Heritage Sites and Monuments Project was not merely an academic exercise but a spiritual responsibility, a call to remember, learn from and preserve their Christian heritage for future generations.
The Rector said the Basel House represented their sacrifices, their hopes and their legacies, adding that ACI had been at the forefront of researching, documenting and interpreting the life and witness of the church in Ghana and Africa.
“Beyond today’s unveiling, our vision is that Basel House will not merely be a preserved artifact, but a living space of engagement, education and spiritual reflection. We envision it as a center
for theological discourse, where students and scholars can explore the intersection of faith, history and mission,” he said.
The Rector urged students and researchers to continue engaging historical materials and drawing lessons that are relevant to contemporary faith and mission, adding that “history, if left untold, is easily forgotten and when we forget our history, we lose a sense of where we’re going.”
Rt Rev Dr Abraham Nana Opare Kwakye, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), said the Basel House was a legacy in stone and spirit, a living chapter in their shared story.
“Today, we honour its architectural journey, a blend of colonial simplicity and modern utility, a symbol of continuity and renewal…we celebrate Dr Clement Anderson Akrofi, Johannes Christaller, David Asante, Carl Christian Reindorf…Adeline Akufo-Addo for their giants contributions,” he said.
The Moderator dedicated murals designed in honour of the pioneers mentioned including Johannes Gottleib Zimmermann, Joseph Franz Mohr, William Timothy Evans, Adeline Akufo-Addo and Theophilus Opoku.
The event was graced by former President Nana Addo Dankea Akufo-Addo and his wife Madam Rebecca Akufo-Addo. The former President’s mother Adeline Akufo-Addo played a pivotal role in the growth of Basel House and the ACI’s early years.
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