By Iddi Yire, GNA
Accra, Nov. 07, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama has announced the allocation of GHS100 million in the 2027 Budget for the completion of the Remand Prison Block at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison in the Eastern Region.
The President made the announcement in Accra during the inauguration of Reverend Dr Stephen Yenusom Wengam, General Superintendent of Assemblies of God, Ghana, for a second four-year term.
Congratulating Rev Dr Wengam on his re-election, President Mahama commended his service to the Church and society, particularly his contributions through the Prisons Council and the renowned Project Efiase initiative, which focuses on the dignity and rehabilitation of inmates.
“And I am pleased to inform you that the project you started, which was the remand block of the Nsawam Prison, GHS100 million has been allocated in the next budget to complete it,” the President said.
President Mahama recalled that Rev Dr Wengam had drawn his attention to the challenges associated with housing remand prisoners and convicted inmates together.
“And remand prisoners have not been convicted, and so they are not criminals. But convicted prisoners, you can say, are criminals. And so, if you still put innocent people with convicted people, then it’s not a good mix,” President Mahama said.
“So, we started the new remand prison in Nsawam. After we left office, it was abandoned, and I’m happy to say that we will complete it next year,” the President said.
President Mahama also acknowledged Rev Dr Wengam’s service as Chairman of the Lordina Foundation from 2017 to 2022, noting that his leadership contributed significantly to the foundation’s work among vulnerable groups.
He recalled joining First Lady Lordina Mahama to attend the 10th World Assemblies of God Congress hosted in Accra last month, describing the event as a landmark occasion.
According to him, hosting the congress for the first time on African soil was a significant achievement for the global Assemblies of God fellowship and a great honour for Ghana.
The President expressed gratitude to Rev Dr Wengam, the national leadership of Assemblies of God, Ghana, the organising committee, and volunteers whose efforts ensured the success of the event.
He said the warm hospitality extended to the guests reflected positively on both the Church and the country.
President Mahama noted that the congress highlighted the growing contribution of African Christians to global missionary work and urged participants to transform the relationships forged during the gathering into enduring cooperation in leadership, development, and community service.
For his part, Rev Dr Wengam reaffirmed the Church’s commitment to the construction of the Assemblies of God Centenary Village City Project, saying, “We do not need the state money to build the Assemblies of God Centenary City. We shall build it ourselves.”
Delivering the homily and conducting the inauguration ceremony, Reverend Dominic Yeo, Chairman of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship and General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God of Singapore, charged Rev Dr Wengam and the newly inaugurated Executive Presbytery of Assemblies of God, Ghana, to continue advancing the Kingdom of God through the Church’s mission and ministry.
Other members of the Executive Presbytery inaugurated alongside Rev Dr Wengam were Rev Kwadwo Boateng Bempeh, Assistant General Superintendent; Rev Albert Anane, General Secretary; and Rev Dr Simon Abu Baba, General Treasurer.
President Mahama and First Lady Lordina Mahama are both members of Assemblies of God, Ghana.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah