The Founder and General Overseer of Souls for Heaven Ministry in Koforidua Apostle Evans Tawiah Evariste have described as “wrong and heartless” criticism by a section of Ghanaians over the construction of Prison camps by The Church of Pentecost.
On May 11, 2021, The Church of Pentecost handed over a multi-purpose prison facility funded and constructed by the Church at Ejura in the Ashanti Region to the Ghana Prisons Service.
The fully furnished three dormitory blocks with the capacity to accommodate 300 inmates also comprise an administration block, a chapel which will also serve as a classroom, football pitch, baptistry, modern washrooms, mechanized borehole, offices, infirmary, workshops, and other auxiliary facilities, was jointly commissioned by the Interior Minister, Hon. Ambrose Dery; the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, and the Chief of Ejura, Barima Osei Hwedie II.
This is just one of five such projects ongoing in parts of the country to decongest Ghana’s prison and provide vocational skill training to the inmates while working on their repentance and salvation
However, a section of Ghanaians has taken to social media to criticize and ridicule the Church for this gesture with some arguing it is a needless venture.
Reacting to this, the Founder of Souls for Heaven Ministry, Apostle Evans Tawiah Evariste said, the gesture of the Church should be commended instead of being criticized.
He said, Prisoners are human that should not continue to live in such inhumane conditions found in prisons while they serve their sentences.
“What is wrong with some Ghanaians? Are Prisoners not Human beings? Why are people so heartless? Listen and listen very well, the fact that they are prisoners doesn’t mean God has rejected them”
He continued “has The Church of Pentecost Use Your money to care for them? Are they supposed to give you jobs Whiles your government is there? Keep quiet if you have nothing to offer. A whole Church came to their rescue and people are still complaining as if they have contributed”.
He said God has three groups of people at heart -the orphans, widows, and Prisoners that he expects Christians to support at all times.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, has explained that the construction of the facility was inspired by the “Possessing the Nations” agenda of the church. He explained that three similar prisons 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 decongest the nation’s prisons facilities and to equip inmates with skills to better integrate them into society after serving their jail terms.
“As 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 (retribution) to being corrective (reformation), 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.
“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 inmate 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.
According to Apostle Eric Nyamekye, one key scripture that has spurred 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, “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.”
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Obed Ansah
