Prisons Church to construct library, conference centre
The Cantonments Prisons Interdenominational Church has laid the foundation stone for the construction of a multi-purpose library and conference centre in Accra.
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The three-storey edifice, which is to be constructed at a cost of GH¢300,000, will house church offices, a classroom facility, library, a multi-purpose conference hall and a bay for outdoor activities. The project forms part of the 35th anniversary celebration of the church.
Event
At a thanksgiving and fundraising service to round off activities for the celebrations in Accra, the Member of Parliament (MP) for La-Dadekotopon, Mr Vincent Odotei Sowah, commended the leadership of the church for the initiative which he said would also serve as a centre for knowledge acquisition.
“During the 2016 electioneering campaign, one issue that kept coming up in my constituency was a library for the people, so I am excited the Prisons Service has come up with that idea, as it will not only serve members of the service but communities within the La-Dadekotopon Constituency,” he stated.
The MP, who represented the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, therefore, pledged to support the project with 100 bags of cement.
He also promised to donate a heavy duty multi-functional photocopier to the church as a sign of appreciation to the prisons community for voting for him to become a parliamentarian.
The event was witnessed by the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General Obed Akwa; the acting Director-General of Prisons, Mr Patrick Darko Missah; a former Director-General of Prisons, Colonel Ohene Asare, some members of the past and current Prisons Directorate and the clergy.
Commendation
The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Mr Alban Sumani Kingsford Bagbin, who also represented the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye, congratulated the church and its members for the vision in coming up with the project.
“I find the provision of a library very critical towards the realisation of the reformation mandate of the Prisons Service. Libraries are avenues for knowledge acquisition and enhancement and a fountain for self and national development. Therefore, the library will no doubt facilitate your efforts at using education as a tool for reformation,” he stated.
Mr Bagbin stated that reformation of prison inmates was a collective responsibility that should not be left to the state alone.
He assured the service that, “Parliament is ever ready to pass or approve bills, financial provisions and legislations to garner the much-needed resources for a complete transformation of the Prisons Service. Parliament’s doors are open, and you are always welcome to ask for our support to execute your mandate.”
Advice
The Presiding Bishop of the AME Zion Church, Rt Rev. Dr Hilliard Dela Dogbe, who spoke on ‘serving in humility’, said no matter the level of a person’s position in the service of God, one must always embrace humility, respect and dedication to positively impact the lives of people and also draw them closer to God.
The Chaplain General of the Prisons Service, Apostle James Tetteh, called on the leadership and members of the church to renew efforts to defend their spiritual gains and also maintain a positive Christian environment.
The Chaplain-in-charge of the Church, Rev. Cannon S.S. Adama Okai, said the desire to invite others to have an encounter with God was the beginning of the act of evangelism, adding that the church’s first mission was to win souls for God.
Background
The Cantonments Prisons Interdenominational Church was established on May 18, 1982. The idea of establishing the church was led by Rev. Major William Jonfia, who was on a chaplaincy secondment at Prisons from the Ghana Army. The move was to bring the word of God to the doorstep of officers and their families within the Cantonments enclave.