Accra. Dec. 14, GNA - Work has begun on the construction of an 8,000 capacity hall of the Jehovah Witnesses in Accra to cater for the large and the increasing numbers of witnesses in Ghana.

Mr Alfred Kwakye, a member of the Ghana branch of the Jehovah Witnesses announced this in Tema on the fourth day of the International Convention of the witnesses where some of the members were holding their conventions as part of the grand one taking place in Accra. The convention was also being held simultaneously in Ho, Koforidua, Takoradi and Kumasi.

Mr Kwakye said the great increase in the work of the witnesses had become possible because of the Ghanaian hospitality and the willingness of the people in their preaching and work to give glory to God. He said due to the increase in their numbers it has become necessary to construct meeting places called Kingdom Halls for the witnesses and that 50 of such places had been built in recent times through a special construction programme.

He said 578 Kingdom Halls would be built to care for the growing needs of the witnesses throughout the country.

According to Mr Kwakye 146 volunteer workers, 70 of them from other countries were engaged in the expansion of meeting places of witnesses throughout the country.

Mr Kwakye announced that the witnesses had extended their Bible study programmes to 12 of the nation's prisons to reform the inmates and that a scheme of a sign language was underway to teach the handicapped, especially the deaf and dumb about God's Kingdom. Mr Edmund Armah, an elder of the Tsuiblewu Branch of the Witnesses congregation in Accra advised the youth to eschew immorality, walk in God's way and use their energies in activities that would bring praise and glory to Jehovah.

Mr Emmanuel Collisson of the Kaneshie congregation stressed that parents should frequently interact with their children to build Godly qualities in them to enable them to become responsible adults. On Saturday 1,850 new converts were baptized into the fold.

Mr David Spleen, a member of the Governing Body of the Jehovah Witnesses released two new publications; "See the Good " and "Learn from the Great Teacher".