By Yussif Ibrahim
Obuasi (Ash), Jan. 6, GNA – In a compassionate gesture, the Obuasi Pentecost Mine Workers Guild and the Pentecost Men’s Ministry (PEMEM) donated cement to Obuasi Local Prisons to support construction of a vocational workshop for inmate rehabilitation.
The donation is intended to accelerate ongoing construction works that will directly benefit inmates by providing a dedicated space for skills training and personal development.
The workshop forms part of broader rehabilitation efforts to ensure that prisoners are not only confined but also equipped with practical skills to rebuild their lives after serving their sentences.
Elder Emmanuel Baidoo, President of the Pentecost Mine Workers Guild, said at the presentation ceremony that caring for prisoners was an essential component of holistic community development.
He explained that the building materials would support the construction of a workshop where inmates would receive hands-on training in trades such as carpentry, masonry, tailoring, and other vocational skills upon completion.
Elder Baidoo said the Church’s intervention aligned with the Ghana Prisons Service’s reformation agenda and shared the vision of transforming prisons into centres of reform and human development.
He cited the construction of a modern prison camp by the Church in Obuasi as further evidence of its commitment to prison welfare and reform.
He also commended the management of the Obuasi Local Prisons for making productive use of resources provided by both government and private partners.
Pastor Prince Agyemang, Obuasi Area PEMEM Leader, underscored the human dimension of the initiative, stressing that prisoners deserved care, dignity, and opportunity.
“By investing in infrastructure that equips inmates with vocational skills, we believe we are helping to break the cycle of crime and support sustainable livelihoods,” he said.
He noted that PEMEM remained committed to improving the lives of all members of society, including those “who have found themselves on the margins of life.”
Receiving the donation, the Officer-in-Charge of the Obuasi Local Prisons, Chief Superintendent of Prisons (CSP) Francis Deku, expressed appreciation, noting that such support had a direct impact on inmate welfare and morale.
He said the provision of cement and other building materials was critical to the timely completion of the workshop, describing the project as a key pillar of prison reform and rehabilitation.
According to him, such gestures made inmates feel remembered and valued by society, even while serving their sentences.
The intervention forms part of PEMEM’s broader commitment to community welfare and social responsibility in Obuasi.
In recent times, the Obuasi Area Men’s Ministry has undertaken several outreach programmes and partnered organisations such as AngloGold Ashanti and Vivo Energy Ghana on initiatives promoting safety, education, and civic responsibility.
The construction of vocational facilities within prisons reflects a growing recognition by the Ghana Prisons Service, faith-based organisations, and civil society that prisoner welfare is central to national development.
By equipping inmates with employable skills, these initiatives aim to reduce reoffending and support successful reintegration into society.
GNA
Edited by Kwabia Owusu-Mensah/Audrey Dekalu