ACCRA, APOSTOLIC PREFECTURE OF. — This prefecture, which takes its name from the capital city, was detached from the vicariate of the Gold Coast (Africa) in December 1943. It comprises almost the entire Eastern Province (Eastern Prov.) of the Gold Coast, namely the civil districts of Birim, Accra, New Juaben, Akwapim, and part of the Volta River and Ada districts; it lies to the west of the Volta River, with a surface area of about 10,000 sq. km.
The prefecture is evangelized by 13 missionaries of the Society of the Divine Word (Verbiti) and three Black priests, along with two brothers. The Catholics number 19,136, with 3,218 catechumens, out of a total population of about 750,000, almost entirely belonging to the Twi language group in its two forms, Fanti and Guang, while a very small minority belongs to the Ga-Ewe group. Since local Protestantism makes use of a powerful school organization, the Verbiti, who began the mission in 1938, have already created a considerable network of schools, rising from 4 to 87, with a total of 4,632 pupils. The greatest obstacle for the missionaries is fetishism, which is widespread and deeply rooted, but, thanks to their zeal, the Catholic doctrine penetrates easily and rapidly (cf. MC, p. 2).