The Church of Pentecost has cut the sod for the construction of a holding facility for prisoners in Damongo, the Savanna Regional capital.
The facility is expected to house about 350 inmates.
It would comprise two dormitories, each housing 150 inmates; a workshop that would train the inmates, as well as a church, recreational centre, and an administration block for officers of the Prisons Service.
Speaking at the sod-cutting ceremony, Apostle Ohenema Quacky of the Church of Pentecost said the church is partnering the government in financing four similar projects nationwide with some in Ejura, Obuasi, and Damongo.
He said the project is expected to be completed within eight months and would house prisoners from the region as well as other parts of the country to help decongest the already-existing facilities.
The head of the Prisons Service in the region, Mr N.B. Duut, on behalf of the Director-General of the Prison Council, thanked the Pentecost Church for that initiative.
He said the facility will help decongest the existing one which is 300% full.
According to him, the existing facilities lack accommodation and toilet facilities, a situation that facilitates the spread of communicable diseases, hence the new one was coming at the right time.
He also appealed to the minister of the region to attach personal interest to the project and thanked the overlord of the Gonja traditional area, Yagbonwura Borasa for releasing a portion of land for the project.
The Savanna Regional Minister, Adam Salifu Braimah, assured the council that he would do all that he can to support the council toward the completion of the project and further thanked the Church of Pentecost for the initiative since the prisons could be end up being home to anybody at all in the country.
Source: Zion Abdul-Rauf, Damongo
