Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS) constitute the importance and success of the Assemblies of God work in Ghana. The world needs the message of salvation and someone must be willing to go, but one cannot even go unless he or she has the knowledge. That is where the Theological Seminary comes in, for the messenger must know what the message is all about, or he will be preaching ineffective messages.
AGTS started in 1952 where classes were conducted using correspondence courses. There were no facility nor resident students. In early 1954, the ground floor of the parsonage built on the Kumasi Central AG property was completed and were used for classes. Four resident students occupied the chambers and classes were held in the main hall. The four students were J.S.A. Thompson, Joseph Gyamfosu, Opare Quafo and John Forku. Classes were held Tuesdays through Friday to give time for these brethren to pastor their churches within Ashanti and Brong Ahafo regions. Classes were closed for the year soon after because of the Kumasi church dedication. The college was reopened in March 1955. A few more students were added and the following December, the first .graduation of the four students were held.
In 1956, the school again resumed classes, adding a few more students. Using a three year curriculum, the school now has first and second-year classes. In 1956, the school had no graduation class. The school re-opened in March 1957, with separate year classes with a total student population of less than twenty (20). In early 1958, the college was relocated from Kumasi Central Church because the Kumasi church needed their parsonage. Furthermore, students who went to the college from the coastal areas did not return to work in their regions, instead they got involved in ministry in Kumasi. In consultation with the national ministers, it was then decided to locate the college to the Central Region. It took three years for a piece of land to be acquired.
In March 1961, three significant events took place. Classes started at Canaan Lodge in Saltpond, the College ground was dedicated at the new site and the construction of the first building began. In 1962, the original chapel which currently serves as the Seminary’s library, the classroom block and the first dormitory was completed and in use. Since 1961, the Seminary has run its programs unhindered and has never deviated from its primary objectives of training ministers. In the year 1997, the Executive Presbytery of the Assemblies of God, Ghana, upgraded it from an institute to a college level to run a Bachelor of Theology and Bachelor of Ministry Programs.
The school was formerly known as Southern Ghana Bible Institute and was later transited to be Southern Ghana Bible College, and has now become Assemblies of God Theological Seminary. Affiliation with Global University in the United States of America has been concluded in a Co-operative agreement between Assemblies of God, Ghana and the University. The school combines classroom work with field experience and presently run a one-year Certificate Course in Theology, a two-year Diploma in Theology Course, Degree Programs, Masters Programs and Special Courses in Theology. The school admits students from all denominations.
