In welcoming you to the Challenge Enterprises of Ghana (CEG) website, it is my joy to share a bit of history with you which pre-dates the independence of Ghana.

Challenge Enterprises of Ghana which to many, is popularly known as Challenge Bookshop, had its beginnings as far back as 1952 when SIM (Sudan Interior Mission then and now known as Serving in Mission) sent a representative, Trevor Shaw, from Lagos to Accra to gauge the potential for expanding the distribution of the African Challenge magazine to Ghana. Initially working with the newspaper agents of the Daily Graphic, monthly orders of 650 copies were delivered by Tarzan Transport Company into Accra from Lagos.

Challenge magazine opened its first office in Accra in 1956. When independence arrived on 6th March 1957, the October 1957 issue of Challenge magazine recognized this with a special Ghanaian edition and a picture on the cover of President Nkrumah. That edition of 170,000 copies sold over 50,000 in Ghana alone which was 30,000 more than the 20,000 normal monthly circulation. Circulation had grown to 40,000 by 1961 which led to discussions about the need to provide a broader range of Christian literature in the country.

In 1968, the first Challenge bookshop was built. The bookshop opened in 1969. The bookshop operated under the auspices of SIM until 1975 when a Board of Trustees composed of three prominent Ghanaians, one senior staff member and some of the missionaries was formed. The legal formation of the CEG Board was on 25 January, 1975. CEG continued to be led by a seconded SIM missionary until 1989 when the last SIMer (Jim Mason) handed over to Ben Boateng as Managing Director.

It’s been more than 60 years and 3 generations of leaders who are all still alive since 1956, of which I am privileged and humbled to be a part of. We are grateful to God for sustaining His work. We look forward to many more years of serving Him as He transforms us first for service.
I encourage you to intently browse through the pages of this website and to support our work prayerfully in the following key ministries:

1. Prison
2. Annual National Challenge Pastors and Christian Leaders Conferences
3. Challenge Cinema Today
4. Counselling Services
5. Distribution of Gospel Tracts/Christian Literature
6. Hospital Visits
7. Schools Visits
8. Archives to Support research into Ghana’s Christian history.

Challenge is more than a bookshop! It is a whole national missionary enterprise with a global view. We have a charge to keep and a God to glorify.

The Lord, our God continue to bless us all.