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26.10.2009 Regional News

Opambuor In Tears At Kumasi Prisons

By Daily Guide
Rev Ebenezer wiping away tears at the prisonsRev Ebenezer wiping away tears at the prisons
26.10.2009 LISTEN

THERE WERE sorrowful scenes at Kumasi Central Prisons on Saturday afternoon when the founder and leader of Ebenezer Miracle Worship Center, Reverend Ebenezer Opambuor Adarkwa Yiadom shared the word of God with inmates of the facility.

The male and females inmates, who totaled about 2000, wept uncontrollable when the 45-year-old man of God took them on a spiritual journey, quoting various biblical verses that stressed the need for individuals to accept Christ as their personal saviour.

The spontaneous weeping deepened when the talented musician and pastor, who was accompanied by a large entourage of church members and media men, started singing soul touching songs.

The impact of the songs was so huge that the inmates, prisons officers and media personnel all broke into irrepressible tears.

Rev Ebenezer who equally wept urged the inmates to repose their trust in God and take him as their savior.

He entreated them to live decent lives in the prison in order to receive God's forgiveness, adding that the inmates should not consider themselves as outcasts.

Many more inmates wept when Rev. Ebenezer shared his life history, stating that he was a downtrodden who had become an important person in society because of the grace of God.

Most of the inmates rushed forward and openly confessed their crimes, promising to take Jesus as their saviour and live by the Word of God.

He therefore prayed and asked for forgiveness for the inmates, stressing that they should take good care of themselves to ensure a fruitful stay in prison.

The inmates expressed joy at the momentous visit of the founder and leader of the Ebenezer Miracle Worship Center and appealed to him to come back and encourage them.

Rev. Ebenezer, who turned 45 on October 20, 2009, visited the facility ostensibly to celebrate his birthday with the inmates who have been neglected by society.

He also presented an amount of GH¢4,000 to the prison authorities towards the enhancement of the inmates.

Rev Ebenezer visited the facility and donated assortment of items and a cash of GH¢1,500 on February 14, 2009 during the celebration of the Valentine's day.

Presenting the donation, Rev Ebenezer bemoaned the situation whereby suspects on remand outstay their prescribed time at the prisons because their investigators had refused to take them back to the courts.

Expressing further dissatisfaction with the current situation, Rev Ebenezer called on government to as a matter of urgency make necessary changes to the Prisons Act to give prison officers the power to take remand prisoners, who have overstayed their time to court.

He said the amendments was important because as “prison officers have no authority to take prisoners whose investigators for one reason or the other have abandoned them to court.”

According to him, the amendments would help decongest the prisons in the country and would guarantee the rights of suspects under the 1992 constitution.

Rev Ebenezer entreated government to pass a law that would make it mandatory for doctors in the government hospitals to regularly visit and examine prison inmates.

He said, “This measure will ensure that the medical needs of inmates are given priority attention so that they would not be rushed to the hospital in handcuffs for medical treatment.”

Rev Ebenezer emphasized the need by government to relocate the Kumasi Central Prisons because “the present location of the facility at the central business district of the metropolis was not conducive.”

“The relocation is imperative because it provides the only viable antidote in decongesting the prisons which had become a major source of worry to both government and the citizenry,” he added.

 Rev Ebenezer implored prison officers to discharge their duties with humility and affection so “inmates can come out as reformed persons.”

Receiving the donation, the Ashanti Regional Prisons Chaplain, DSP Rev Tei Padi, thanked Rev Ebenezer and promised that the money would be properly utilized.

He called on other rich individuals, churches and other corporate bodies to support the facility, stressing, “Rev Ebenezer is one of the few pastors in the country who has been helpful to the prison. The task is so huge that government alone cannot bear the responsibility.”

From Morgan Owusu & I.F Joe Ibrahim Jnr, Kumasi

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