Ashanti Protectorate was a virgin territory in Africa allocated to Persia during the World Crusade. It was a British protectorate, which became part of the Gold Coast, and then Ghana:  Shoghi Effendi called for pioneers in message of 14 October 1953 (Messages to the Bahá'í World, 173). Benedict Eballa arrived in April 1954, and was named a Knight of Bahá'u'lláh. There were more than 20 Bahá'ís in the Protectorate by Ridvan 1957 (Ridván Message 1957, (Messages to the Bahá'í World, 113).  By Ridvan 1963 there was an LSA at Kumasi.