Nsawam Prisons Receives Support From GNPC And Prisons Fellowship Ghana

The Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) in collaboration with Prisons Fellowship Ghana, an NGO, has supported inmates of the Medium Security Prisons, Nsawam in the Eastern Region, with some assorted food items and toiletries.

The items valued at GH¢12,000.00 were jointly presented by Reverend Emmanuel Kwafo Offei, the President, Prisons Fellowship Ghana and Mr Eric Kwadwo Asare, a Petroleum Engineer and President of the Senior Staff Association of GNPC, at two separate ceremonies at the Male and Female Prisons at Nsawam.

Those for the male inmates included items such as 16 bags of rice, three gallons cooking oil, four boxes of key soap, 16 packets of toilet-rolls and 15 bags of slippers, while that of the female inmates included three bags of rice, one gallon of cooking oil, three packets of toilet-rolls, two bags of slippers and a box of guardian carbolic soap.

The Corporation, as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR), and in partnership with Prisons Fellowship Ghana, has set aside over GH¢30,000.00 to support inmates of the nation's major prisons.

Rev Offei said Prisons Fellowship Ghana aims at positively touching the lives of prison inmates nationwide through Christian evangelistic outreaches

He said the donation was an annual exercise which forms part of their efforts to show love and compassion, and to bring the message of hope and salvation and comfort to the inmates of the nation's prisons.

He said the first phase of the exercise had already taken them to Sekondi, Koforidua, Winneba and Akuse Prisons; adding that their next donation would be to the Osaekrom Prisons near Agona Swedru in the Central Region.

He said Prisons Fellowship of Ghana, which had been incorporated in Ghana since 1985, apart from making donations to prisons, also identifies and undertakes some projects to make life comfortable for the inmates of the prisons.

He recounted that the organisation in collaboration with the Mercy Ship and the British High Commission in 2006, constructed a kitchen for the Female Prison of the Nsawam Prisons.

He said the organisation has in the past fumigated the James Fort Prisons in Accra, as well as the Winneba Prisons.

He appealed to corporate entities, individuals and churches to come to the aid of inmates of the nation's prisons.

Mr Asare, who led the GNPC's delegation, said the Corporation was happy to be supporting the efforts of Prison Fellowship.

He said the exercise was a good humanitarian effort; stating that the Chief Executive of GNPC, believes in Corporate bodies supporting such a social good.

He said they were hopeful that this would not be the last time, but they would make it either a mid-year or an end-of-year event; so that they could fellowship and have a social relation with the inmates.

He said the maiden donation was the beginning of greater things to come.

Mr. Edward Arthiabah, CSR/Corporate Responsibility Officer at GNPC, said the donation, formed part of GNPC's numerous efforts aimed at putting smiles on the faces of the vulnerable in society.

Assistant Director of Prisons (ADP) Samuel Owusu Amponsah, the Second-In-Command of the Medium Security Prisons, Nsawam, expressed gratitude to GNPC for their kind gesture.

He said the facility, which has 800 inmate capacity a few years ago, was now hosting 3,290 inmates.

He said in times of medical emergencies, they had to rely on a pick-up to transport inmates to hospitals; he therefore, appealed to GNPC, to help them with an ambulance.

He appealed also to GNPC and other corporate entities to come to the aid of the clinic with drugs and laboratory equipment.

Rev Martin Padi, Chief Superintendent and Chaplain of the the Medium Security Prisons, who received the items at the male prisons, was thankful to GNPC for the donation and further assured that the items would get to the inmates.

Assistant Staff Officer Lear Appiah-Kusi, an officer at the Female Prisons of the Medium Security Prisons, Nsawam, who received the donation on behalf of the female inmates, expressed gratitude to GNPC and Prisons Fellowship Ghana for the support.

At the Female Prisons the delegation joined the inmates to sing praises to God.