The women’s fellowship of the Amakom Parish branch of the Global Evangelical Church has started Mother’s Day early, with a show of love to female inmates of the Kumasi Central Prisons.
They donated assorted items worth GHC6,000 to the prison inmates over the weekend ahead of the Mother’s Day celebration.
The donation forms part of the church’s prison ministry aimed at improving inmate welfare and reminding inmates that they are not forgotten by society despite their incarceration.
Items donated included toiletries, foodstuffs, drinks, bottled water, cash, and financial support towards the purchase of a gas cooker.
Speaking during the presentation, Presbyter of the church, Christi Bobobi, said the gesture was motivated by the need to share with women in difficult circumstances, assuring the inmates that the church will continue to support them.
“We have to share whatever we have as women. That’s what motivated us because we know some of them are in need as inmates. This will not be the last time. The prison ministry is one important ministry in our work, and so as we have revived it, we’ll ensure that as regularly as possible we’ll come,” she stated.
Mrs Bobobi further appealed to individuals, churches and institutions not to neglect inmates, stressing that showing love and support to prisoners remains an important responsibility.
“To institutions outside, we want to encourage them not to forget our sisters who have been locked behind bars. There are so many of them, and they have so many needs, so those who find themselves able to give something, we’re encouraging them to come and make donations to them,” she said.
Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) Vida Elizabeth Owusu expressed gratitude to the church for the support, describing inadequate feeding grants as one of the major challenges confronting the female section of the prison.
According to her, although the government has increased the feeding grant for inmates from GH¢1.80 to GH¢5 per inmate, the amount remains insufficient considering the rising cost of living and food prices.
“Because the feeding fee at first was 1.80ps and now the government has increased it to 5ghc, you know, 5 cedis can’t be used for anything,” she explained.
ASP Owusu noted that donations from the public significantly help improve feeding and living conditions for inmates.
“When people help us like this, we add it to their feeding fee so that the quantity of the food will be sufficient for them,” she added.
She further appealed to the public to support the prison with food items, medical supplies and materials for vocational and skills training programmes to aid the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society.
“We need the public to help us and assist us with some items so that we can teach them in their field of skills training, and we need medical assistance like first aid drugs to give to them whenever they fall sick,” she said.
The donation by the Global Evangelical Church forms part of growing efforts by faith-based organisations to support correctional facilities through welfare interventions, rehabilitation support and social inclusion initiatives for inmates across the country.
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