Advertisement

Prison Ministry marks 20 years anniversary

Rt. Rev. Professor Emmanuel Mantey (right), Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, congratulating the New Board of Trustees for the Prisons Ministry.  Picture: Emmanuel Asamoah AddaiThe Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey, has praised the Prison Ministry for its immense contribution to the promotion of the well-being of prisoners, both spiritually and physically.

He said efforts by the ministry to draw prisoners closer to the Almighty God and improve the Christian lives of the prison officers were commendable.

Delivering an address at the 20th anniversary celebration of the Prison Ministry held at the Presbyterian Women Centre at Abokobi, near Accra, Rt Rev. Prof. Martey urged Christians to work together to win more souls for God.

He said it was necessary for churches to unite and endeavour to promote the well-being of the inmates because “they were part of our society and nation-building, irrespective of their status”.

Rt Rev Prof. Martey further urged Ghanaians to visit and donate items to prisoners.

For his part, the Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mr James Agalga, said the Prison Ministry, in many diverse ways, had pioneered and championed many voluntary activities, which helped to bring a great deal of relief to the Prisons Administration and the inmates.

“It is worthy to note that the first donation of computers to assist ICT training among the young prison inmates in Ghana was done by the country’s prison ministry,” he stated.

Mr Agalga said the ministry had also provided electric ovens for baking to the female prisoners and a block-making machine to the male prisoners.

He observed that the prisons were overcrowded as they had  exceeded their capacity by an average of more than 40 per cent.

He said the congestion was so terrible that prisoners had to sleep in turns, adding that the situation required immediate attention.

“The best way to reduce the pressure on our prison facilities and improve living conditions of our prisoners would be to reduce the emphasis on institutional detention of offenders and adopt other non-custodial sanctions for offenders,” he said.

Connect With Us : 0242202447 | 0551484843 | 0266361755 | 059 199 7513 |