PHOTOS: The Church of Pentecost finally hands over Ejura Camp Prison to Ghana Prisons Service.
The Church of Pentecost has officially commissioned the multi-purpose prison facility at Ejura in the Ashanti Region and handed it over to the Ghana Prisons Service.
The facility which is described as unprecedented by many Ghanaians was told to have cost a sum of GHS3,297,139.81.
This initiative is part of the Church’s Vision 2023 and in line with the global conviction, “that every country’s prison’s system should move from being punitive to being corrective we planned to support the Ghana Prisons Service in carrying out its mandate of primarily reforming our convicted brothers and sisters who have to find themselves there for one reason or the other”.
The fully furnished facility is capable of housing over 200 inmates at a time. It also has features like a football pitch, a chapel, baptistry, modernize washrooms, an infirmary, workshops, mechanized borehole, offices.
The commission was done by the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, and the Chief of Ejura, Barima Osei Hwedie II.
Meanwhile the Chairman of the church, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, said the construction of the facility was inspired by the “Possessing the Nations” agenda of the church.
According to Apostle Eric Nyamekye, one key scripture that inspired the church on in constructing and completing the facility even though the church has a fair share of infrastructural deficits and challenges by way of church buildings and mission houses has been ‘Hebrews 13:3’ which has been inscribed at certain locations in the edifice which reads, “Heb 13:3 KJV Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body”.
In his submission also, he explained that three similar prison facilities at various stages of completion are under construction at Nsawam, Obuasi, and Damango, all funded by the church in its zeal to partner government to reduce the burden faced by the nation’s prisons facilities and to equip inmates with skills to better integrate them into society after serving their jail terms.
“At the time of crafting the vision 2023 for the church in 2018, the Ghana Prisons Service was experiencing acute overcrowding in their holding facilities across the country. Available statistics then, suggested an inmates’ population of 14,855 for an authorized maximum capacity of 9,875 prisoners which was over 50% beyond the normal capacity. As of April ending 2021, there was a total of 13,081 prisoners occupying facilities that could cater for a maximum of 9,945 inmates. Those of you who were here during the sod-cutting for the commencement of this edifice in May 2019, I believe can well appreciate the practical meaning of not only what reformation or transformation means but also what the love of God through Christ Jesus is all about,” a statement by Apostle Eric Nyamekye.
The Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery, who was so overwhelmed with this project by The Church of Pentecost, applauded the leadership of the church for its vision and show of generosity.
Below are excerpts of his statements;
“With the construction of this magnificent prison facility, The Church of Pentecost has shown and demonstrated that the gospel is a living word and that Christ hates sin but loves the sinner.”
“I am pleased that this prison facility has been purposely built according to specifications fitted with a workshop which will facilitate the reformation of inmates,” he said, adding, “Correction practice globally has evolved from punitive to offender reformation and rehabilitation to ensure their integration into society.”
Below are more photos of the facility;
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