The Ghana Prison Service has expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Churches of Christ in Ghana for their unwavering support towards the Service. This appreciation was expressed at the commissioning ceremony of a newly built auditorium for the Church of Christ at Jukwa Mbem in the Hemang Lower Denkyira District of the Central Region.
In a speech read on behalf of the Chief Superintendent of Prisons (CSP) Francis Deku, Officer-In-Charge of the Obuasi Local Prison, by the Chaplain of the Obuasi Local Prison, ASP James Ekow Amoah, he highlighted the contributions of the Churches of Christ, including assisting in stocking the facility’s tailoring and shoemaking shops with sewing machines. According to him, the Church also provides foodstuffs and other essential materials, in addition to sharing the Word of God with inmates.
Chief Superintendent Deku, while highlighting the Service’s newly introduced programme dubbed “Think Prisons 360,” called on the Church to continue its support and urged other religious groups, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and philanthropists to join in reforming inmates.
He revealed that, as part of their reform activities, the facility now has, in addition to the tailoring and shoemaking shops, a bakery and pastry shop where inmates are trained in bread-making and pastry production. This, he explained, would help rehabilitate inmates so they do not become a threat to society upon their release.
He further urged society to reintegrate inmates upon their release to prevent feelings of isolation.
In his address, the main speaker of the short but colourful ceremony, Bro. Dr. (hc) Daniel Owusu Asiamah, a missionary of the Churches of Christ, admonished that helping the needy—prisoners, orphans, and widows—is an essential duty of Christians and what God loves most.
“The money we collect in our churches is for God, and He [God] has commanded us to use it to help the needy and those in prison, and you say you have a problem with that?” he questioned.
“It’s about time churches come to the realisation that church money is not for preachers (pastors). People are suffering in the church, in society, in prisons, and in hospitals. Let’s go out and help with the church money because Christianity is all about giving,” Bro. Asiamah emphasised.
The vociferous former Takoradi Central Church of Christ preacher therefore charged the Jukwa Mbem congregation to make good use of the facility for its rightful purpose, saying, “Make this auditorium a holy place. Make sure whatever you do here honours God, even though this is not where God stays, but you must let it be a place of holy activities.”
The fully furnished auditorium was built single-handedly by Sister Evelyn Arhin Donkor (Mrs) for the Church, to the glory of God.
In her joyful address, she thanked God for allowing her to put up the structure for His Church. “Who am I that God has allowed me to do something He didn’t even allow King David to do? I’m very grateful to You, Father. At least your children will have a comfortable place to worship You,” Mrs Arhin Donkor expressed.
By: Kojo Ata Kakrah Abrowah (Bro KAKA)/anthonyabrowah@gmail.com/newsalertgh.com
