Kumasi, Dec.30, GNA— The Kumasi Central Prisons has received more than GH₵20,000.00 as payment of the fines of 17 inmates, who are serving various prison terms at the facility.
The courts imposed fines on the convicts, who are petty offenders but could not raise the money to pay and were ordered to serve various prison terms.
The money was raised through the contributions of listeners of the Oyerepa Breakfast Show (OBS) Charity Project “Help Me Pay My Fines” and the management of the radio station in Kumasi.
Mr Joel Nana Yaw Mensah, the morning show host of OBS, presenting the cash to the prison officials in Kumasi, said the producers of the show felt the need to assist these petty offenders to be given a second chance in society.
He said some of these offenders were in prison for minor offences.
Mr Mensah said the Project had come to stay and would work closely with Ghana Prisons Service to ensure that justice was served to deserving persons.
The Project would also work to ensure the freed convicts lived changed lives by resourcing them with start-up capitals in petty trading.
He said the OBS sought the audience and approval of the management of Oyerepa FM/TV and this gave way for listeners to contribute their quota towards the project.
He commended the listeners of the show for contributing to the project and called for more support to sustain the project.
Assistant Director of Prisons (ADP) Mr Ousmane Tasembedo, Deputy Commander of the Kumasi Central Prison, commended the project initiators for the immense support and said the beneficiaries were going to be released immediately.
He said there was congestion at the prison cells and the release of the 17 persons would create some space for other inmates.
GNA