Information on the above-mentioned subject is currently unavailable to the DIRB in Ottawa. However, according to an official at the headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) in Salt Lake City, Utah, the Mormon church was banned in Ghana in 1989 due to misunderstandings created by persons who did not want the church established in Ghana (23 Aug. 1994).

The official stated that although foreign missionaries of the Mormon church were deported, none was jailed in Ghana (ibid.). The official was unaware of local church officials or members being arrested and jailed for their religious orientation. Less than a year after implementation of the ban the church was once again allowed to operate in Ghana (ibid.). As of June 1994 the church had 116 missionaries in Ghana, including missionaries from Ghana, neighbouring countries and the United States (ibid.). The headquarters of the church in Ghana is located in Accra and the president is Christophe Nwobu Chukwurah. Foreign missionaries have not been banned from entering Ghana since the lifting of the ban in 1990 (ibid.). The DIRB is unable to corroborate the above information at the present time.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

World Headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons), Salt Lake City, Utah. 23 August 1994. Telephone interview with official.

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