Who We Are

The Soka Gakkai International (SGI) - Ghana is an organization devoted to the promotion of peace, culture and education based on the teachings and philosophy of Nichiren Daishonin’s Buddhism. This Buddhism places the highest emphasis on the sanctity of life. Members seek, through their practice of Buddhism, to develop the ability to live with confidence, to create value in any circumstance and to contribute to the well-being of friends, family and community.

Our philosophy is rooted in the concept of "human revolution," a process of inner transformation through Buddhist practice. It is a process that leads us to develop our character and to act not only for our personal fulfillment but also for the betterment of society.

We believe that happiness is being able to experience profound joy that comes from never being defeated by any problem in life. In fact, we use life’s challenges as catalysts to deepen and expand our inner lives. True happiness results from our efforts to manifest our highest potential — wisdom, compassion, courage and vitality.

History of SGI-Ghana

Looking back to this organization's (SGI Ghana) obscure and problem saddled beginning; one would hardly have expected such fantastic progress for it as at today. Hardly did even the leaders of those years envisage such an amazing rapidity in development. How did it begin and develop? What is the secret behind its progress?

 It all began with Mr. Suguru Fujimoto, a Soka Gakkai member who arrived in Ghana from Japan on 31st January 1965 on Ghana-Japan Technical Assistance programme. It was he who introduced Nichiren Daishonin's True Buddhism into the Ghanaian society. Mr. Fujimoto's residence at Roman Ridge was the activity centre where members met and chanted and discussed True Buddhism. He left the shores of Ghana on 5th August 1968. Thereafter, the membership kept growing and by 1969 it became necessary to look for a more convenient meeting place in Accra for District general meetings.

 After many months search a classroom within King Tachie Memorial School on the Library Avenue Accra was obtained for District meetings until 1973 when through the effort of the late S.K Kwakwa, a former senior resident tutor of the Institute of Adult Education, University of Ghana, a lecture hall of the Accra Workers College was obtained. District meetings started in that building on March 11th 1973. That place was not only spacious but was also in a convenient location since it was the city centre.

By 1975, it became necessary to obtain legal recognition for the organization and on January 15th 1975, Nichiren Shoshu of Ghana (NSG), as it was at that time was registered under the Trustees (incorporated) Act 1962 with eleven strong members Board of Trustees.

Eleven days after the registration of NSG as a legal body, the International Buddhist League (IBL), a forerunner, was organized on January 26th 1975 in Guam, America as Soka Gakkai International (SGI). It was at that meeting in Guam that NSG'S registration was reported to the President of Soka Gakkai, Ikeda Sensei. There and then, it was reported that, he exclaimed, "I will build a Kaikan for Ghana" That was the beginning of SGI-Ghana centre in Accra.

By October 1975, President Ikeda had already provided a grant for the purchase of a building for use as Kaikan (Community Centre). Fortunately, after a long search for a building to purchase, Mr. Peprah, who was then a new member in the Ashaiman district of Tema Chapter, located a site at Dansoman with an uncompleted building on it for sale. When a modified plan of the building was sent to President Ikeda, he gave his approval for the purchase and reconstruction of the building site. Thanks to the great compassion of our mentor, President Daisaku Ikeda by March 1977 the agreement for the purchase and indenture were signed, concluding that transaction.

That news caused a big stir and excitement in the organization at that time, particularly among the strong and dynamic youth division members. As a result, by February 1978 members who were tradesmen particularly in Tema and Accra had been mobilized by the vibrant youth Division Chief Mr. Bobson M. Godonu, to erect a temporary structure at the site for the storage of the purchased materials. On February 2nd, the structure was completed and from then on reconstruction work on the building began in earnest on 6th February 1978.

Members were determined to build the Kaikan by themselves and by February 1979, the constructional work on the ground floor comprising a reception, offices, conference room and caretakers apartment had been completed and the steel reinforcement for the first floor had been made in readiness to receive the concrete. Originally, the concreting of the first floor was constructed since it needed some technical hand.

But after protracted delay by the construction firm, members moved by the Gakkai spirit (stand alone spirit) of the youth division decided to undertake the work themselves. Over a period of four weekends (i.e. 8 days) members from Tema, the stronghold of the youth, Accra, Kumasi, Takoradi, and from other outstations came together and finished the work within that short period with 400 bags of cement, twenty truck loads of stones and sand to fill a volume of 150 m3. At the close of the day, a bottle of champagne was opened to celebrate a good work done. From there on, work progressed steadily till 1983 when members themselves completed he constructional works.

That year, the climatic situation in the West African-sub-region changed for the worst. There was drought, bush fires, famine, sickness, death etc. Many of us could remember with nostalgia that the period was called "olonka" period in Ghana due to the severity of famine in the country.

That situation was reported to President Ikeda and immediately he gave guidance that the Joju Gohonzon (Buddhist object of devotion) be enshrined and the Kaikan opened for the members to chant so as to change the situation for the better. Even though the furnishing were not completed, the President with his far sighted vision encouraged us to open the centre and on December 31st 1983, the Joju Gohonzon was enshrined and on the following day, January 1st 1984, a general meeting of the members was convened to open the Kaikan. Since then SGI Ghana has advanced steadily and spread throughout Ghana bringing joy and happiness to its practitioners and the whole Ghanaian society.

We are all witnesses to what the economic situation and the general livelihood in the Ghanaian society have been since 31st December 1983 till today. Ghana has seen remarkable peace and progressive development that cuts across the whole fabric of society. At best we are our own judges.