Prisons Church lays foundation for multi-purpose library, conference centre

The Cantonments Prisons Interdenominational Church as part of its 35th anniversary celebration has laid a foundation stone for the construction of a multi-purpose Library and Conference Centre for the Service and the general public.

The edifice, which is to be constructed at a cost of GHC300,000, will be a three storey structure that will house church offices, a classroom facility, library, a multi-purpose conference hall and a bay for outdoor activities.

Felicitations and Support

Speaking at the Thanksgiving and Fundraising Service to round up activities of the celebration at the church in Accra recently, Honourable Vincent Odotei Sowah, the Member of Parliament for the La-Dadekotopon Constituency, who represented the First Lady, H.E. Rebecca Akuffo Addo, in a speech extended the felicitations of the First Lady to the church and the Prisons Service for the idea of building a Library to 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 also other members within the La-Dadekotopon constituency. The First Lady is through me pledging to support the project with fifty (50) bags of cement, and I also wish to pledge another fifty (50) bags to support the project”, Hon Odotei stated.

He also pledged to donate one 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, and assured that he will support the Service when issues of bills and legislations concerning it come up in Parliament.

The Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Alban Sumana Kinsford Bagbin, who also represented the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye, congratulated the church and its members for the momentous occasion, and for laying a foundation stone for the construction of a multi-purpose edifice.

“I find the provision of a library very critical towards the realization 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”, Hon. Bagbin stated.



He admitted that, both the state and the Prisons Service alone cannot ensure the creation of effective measures and structures to reform prison inmates, but it is a collective responsibility of which all hands must be on deck.

The second Deputy Speaker 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 opened, and you are always welcome to ask for our support to execute your mandate”.

Sermon

Preaching during the ceremony, the guest speaker and Presiding Bishop of the AME Zion Church, Rt. Rev. Dr. Hilliard Dela Dogbe, on the subject ‘Serving in Humility’, preached that no matter the level of one’s position in the service of God, one must always embrace humility, respect and dedication to positively impact the lives of members of society and also draw them closer to God.

Goodwill messages

Apostle James Tetteh, the Chaplain General of the Prisons Service, in a goodwill message called on the leadership and members to renew their efforts to defend their spiritual gains, and maintain a positive Christian environment. ‘As we are turning over that new page of our history, we must continue to reach out to the lost souls and take care of the flock of Christ’, he stated.

The Chaplain-in-Charge of the Church, Reverend Cannon SS. Adama Okai, also in a goodwill message said the desire to invite others to have an encounter with God is the beginning of the act of evangelism, and that the church’s first mission is to win souls for God and that idea must continue to cover a greater part of the church’s agenda in these end times.



‘As we celebrate 35 years of our work as a church in this community, I want to appreciate your dedication and commitment to the church’s mission in the form of your time and resources. The period also calls for sober reflections of our past which must guide us today to be able to make informed decisions for the future’, the Cannon added.

Dignitaries

Other dignitaries present at the ceremony included the Chief of Defense Staff, Major General Obed Akwa; the acting Director-General of Prisons, Mr. Patrick Darko Missah; former Director-General of Prisons, Colonel Ohene Asare, some members of the past and current Prisons Directorate and some Clergymen from other religious organizations and security services.

Activities

The celebration witnessed other activities such as donations to the less privileged, an Anniversary Launch, a Candle Light Procession, a Night of Choral Music, an All Saints Day, a Heritage Night, a Night of Praises and Worship, and homecoming activities.

History

The Cantonments Prisons Interdenominational Church was established on 18th May, 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.