Accra to host Assemblies of God World Congress from 14 to 16 October, a first for Africa

Pinned summary · as of 06:31

Accra will host the Assemblies of God fellowship's worldwide congress from 14 to 16 October 2026, with delegates expected from about 100 countries. Church leaders say it is the first time in the denomination's 115-year history that the gathering has come to Africa. Rev. Stephen Yenusom Wengam, who heads the church in Ghana as its General Superintendent, laid out the plans at a news conference in the capital on Thursday 1 October and said President John Dramani Mahama and his wife will be among those present.

What we know

• The congress is scheduled for Accra from 14 to 16 October 2026 under the theme "Commissioned: One Mandate, Every Nation". Rev. Wengam gave the details at a news conference at the church's Accra headquarters on Thursday 1 October.
• Church leaders describe it as the first time the fellowship has brought its global gathering to Africa since the denomination began 115 years ago.
• Rev. Wengam said President Mahama and Mrs Lordina Mahama will attend, and the opening ceremony on 14 October is expected to bring together dignitaries. He also named Rev. Dominic Yeo, the fellowship's global chairman from Singapore, and Rev. Lazarus Chakwera, the former President of Malawi, among the guests expected.
• Rev. Wengam expects over 10,000 delegates, drawn from about 100 countries, to come to the capital.
• According to Rev. Wengam, morning sessions run from 9am to 5:30pm at Black Star Square, with revival rallies open to every denomination at the Accra Sports Stadium after dark. He said no one pays to attend.
• Rev. Wengam said Ghana was put forward as host for the tenth congress by a church leader from Tanzania at the previous triennial meeting, held in Madrid in 2023.
• The church set up a Local Organising Committee chaired by Rev. Andrews Nelson Awintia, the church's Greater Accra East Regional Superintendent, and a congress secretariat at its headquarters led by Gifty Agyei-Fiankoh.
• Rev. Wengam said the theme is a challenge to the denomination's congregations and clergy to bring in more converts and start a million new churches by 2033 at the least.
• Rev. Wengam said the congress should bring tourists and investors to Ghana and help the hospitality industry and local businesses, and asked traditional and social media to publicise the event.

What's disputed / unconfirmed

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  Rev. Awintia told the Daily Guide Network that the evening sessions at the Accra Sports Stadium could draw 40,000 to 45,000 people and that Black Star Square should see at least 10,000 in the mornings. Channel One TV reported an expected turnout of about 10,000 participants, a lower overall figure.
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  The Daily Guide Network reported Rev. Awintia's statement that Ghana has no hall big enough for the morning crowds, so organisers ordered a dome from Dubai that can seat at least 10,000 at once and was due to arrive around the time of the interview.
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  Rev. Awintia said, according to the Daily Guide Network, that the Assemblies of God began in the United States in 1914 after the Azusa Street Revival, holds a global congress every third year, and that the event is open to the general public and to visitors from Africa and elsewhere, not just members.
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  Reports differ on how many ministers of state will take part. The Daily Guide Network quoted Rev. Awintia as saying 28 had confirmed, while Newswatch GH, Citi Newsroom and MyJoyOnline reported Rev. Wengam as saying that eighteen Ghanaian ministers of state, plus other well-known figures, had confirmed they would take part.
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  Citi Newsroom and Newswatch GH reported that Rev. Wengam put Assemblies of God Ghana at 10,077 local branches and about 1.2 million members. Newswatch GH added his figures for the worldwide fellowship: 89.9 million members across 451,000 local branches, of whom 20 million are in Africa. Other reports have not repeated these numbers.
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  Citi Newsroom and MyJoyOnline reported that the free evening programmes will feature Joe Mettle, Sinach, Dunsin Oyekan and a 500-voice congress choir, and that the gathering will focus on church health, the next generation and revival. Other reports have not mentioned these details.
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  Newswatch GH reported that Rev. Wengam expects hotels, guest houses and restaurants to gain the most, since he said all 10,000 participants will need rooms and meals for three days. It also quoted him as saying the congress is a task for the whole nation, not merely a church event, and will present Ghana well to the world.
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  Channel One TV said the event is being promoted as a lift for tourism, hospitality and local business, a view attributed to the broadcaster's own reporting rather than a named speaker.

Why it matters for Ghana

A multi-day gathering of this size in the capital could bring extra business to hotels, restaurants, transport operators, food sellers and petty traders around Black Star Square and the Accra Sports Stadium. Drivers and commuters in Accra may face heavier traffic near the two venues while the sessions run. The evening rallies are free and open to people of all denominations, so many residents who are not church members can attend.