The Effiduase Area of The Church of Pentecost has donated items worth about GHȻ 10,600.00 to inmates of Koforidua Local Prison in the Eastern Region.
The items were donated during the Yuletide. It included four bags of gari, a mini bag of beans, a bag of maize, toiletries, and soft drinks, among others.
Presenting the items, the Effiduase Area Head of the church, Pastor Stephen Okyere Acheampong, said the donation was their widow’s mite to help make the Christmas festivities special for the inmates.
Receiving the items on behalf of the inmates, Superintendent George Amegbletor, who stood in for the Officer-in-Charge of the facility, Deputy Director of Prisons (DDP) Christopher Hayibor, thanked the church for the kind gesture, saying, “The donation is timely and it will go a long way in helping to improve the food situation in the prison.”
Superintendent Amegbletor called on other churches to emulate the kind gesture of The Church of Pentecost and come to the aid of prison inmates to supplement government efforts in feeding the inmates.
In a fellowship with the inmates, Pastor Stephen Okyere Acheampong urged the inmates not to be discouraged and that the church has not neglected them.
He said: “It is the vision of The Church of Pentecost to help decongest the prisons and make life after prison easy for our unfortunate brothers and sisters in prison. In view of this, the Church is building Camp Prisons in some parts of the country to equip inmates with skills that will earn them a living.”
In a sermon, the New Tafo District Minister, Pastor Samuel Acquaah, admonished the inmates not to be discouraged, saying, “There is hope for you.”
Speaking on the topic, “Learn from one of these people” based on Matthew 2:1 and Micah 5:2, Pastor Acquah urged the inmates not to go back to ‘Herod,’ but like the wise men “look for Jesus and worship him.”
Accompanying the Area Head were the Area Prison Ministry Chairman, Pastor Frank Oppong, the Area pastorate, and church leaders.
Report by Ezekiel Korletey.