When Herbert Jennings, the branch servant of Ghana, visited Abidjan in 1969, he asked if there were any volunteers to serve as special pioneers in Upper Volta. “I put up my hand,” James Kwakye remembers. “But I was the only one who did!” Later, in May 1970, another pioneer also volunteered. So the two teamed up, and on July 1, 1970, they left on the train for Ouagadougou. Emmanuel was there at the train to meet them, and had a room ready where they could stay. But the newcomers were in for a surprise, as Brother Kwakye explains:

“The next morning, while on our way to the National Security Department, we were arrested by the police. That same morning there had been reports in the newspaper of the work of Jehovah’s Witnesses being banned in Cameroon. We were questioned about Jehovah’s Witnesses not paying their taxes, as the newspaper wrongly reported. Quickly I took out a copy of the ‘Truth’ book and showed the officer the chapter ‘Christian Obedience to Law.’ I studied through the appropriate paragraphs with him right then and there, and he soon realized that the press reports about us were inaccurate. However, he told us not to preach from house to house until further notice. So we only did informal witnessing. How glad we were that the publications were pocket-sized! Out we would go, pockets bulging somewhat, to contact people informally and tell them the good news of the Kingdom.

“Three weeks later we were summoned to the National Security Department again. We were told, ‘All right, you can continue preaching now!’ We applied for a Resident’s Permit, and we received permission for a ten-year stay. By way of saying thank you for this, we decided to witness to all the ministers in the government and other high officials, which we did beginning in January of 1971. Among those contacted was a police chief. He was very interested in the truth and subscribed for the ‘Awake!’ magazine.

“In May of 1971 we traveled back to Ivory Coast to attend a fine circuit assembly in Dimbokro. On our return to Ouagadougou we were arrested again, this time by a policeman. I was taken by car to the Police Department, and on arrival I was taken before five senior officers. To the astonishment of the policeman who arrested me, one of these senior officers greeted me, ‘Hello, James. I am sure these colleagues of mine here would also like to subscribe to your magazine.’

“I had a fine time witnessing to them all and I was able to place two books and five magazines. One of the officers told the policeman who had arrested me to take me back home by car because, as he said, ‘It is too hot outside, and besides we do not have any case against him!’”

FOUNDATION FOR A CONGREGATION

Brother Kwakye soon afterward contacted the headmaster of a school who showed particular interest in the truth. A study was started and his whole family came into the truth. This new brother, Jean-Baptiste Yago, was one of three persons contacted by Brother Kwakye who soon became Witnesses.

Meetings began to be held in Emmanuel Johnson’s house. Some boys would throw stones at the house whenever meetings were held. But James had enough friends among the police to have these young hooligans quickly discouraged!

[Picture on page 199]

James Kwakye (left) contacted Jean-Baptiste Yago, headmaster of a school. He and his whole family became Witnesses