The Regional Chaplain of the Kumasi Central Prisons, Reverend Canon Superintendent Paa Kwesi Ansah, has appealed to the public to periodically visit inmates at the prison so as to make them feel part of the society.
Speaking to the Ghanaian Observer Newspaper during a visit to the prisons by the Youth Department of the Four Garrison Seventh Day Adventist Church,(SDA), the Chaplain noted a prisoner today could be a neighbour tomorrow.
According to him, any released prisoner could find his next abode to be the neighbourhood of residents.
He, therefore, rallied the public to treat prisoners well by visiting them.
ADVICE:
”It is better to treat prisoners or inmates well since one day we all can find ourselves to be living next to a released prisoner in the same neighbourhood”, Rev Canon Ansah noted.
He stressed the periodic visits by the public goes a long way to making prisoners feel they are loved by the society.
This, he added encourages them to be of good behaviour until they serve their time at the prisons.
‘Love shown by the public and such visits to the prisons as demonstrated by the youth of the SDA church has an impact on inmates’, Canon Ansah drummed.
He stressed, ‘sometimes we might not fully comprehend what it does to them but it excites their souls and make them feel remembered by society’.
SDA YOUTH:
Master Guide Akwasi Kwarteng, Sabath School Superintendent in his remarks to the paper after presenting some toiletries, food stuffs, cooking oil and detergents earlier on indicated the group’s desire to touch the lives of the needy in the society.
According to him, this is what the church was called out by God to be to the world.
He stressed the church should always take its rightful position and be a great influence on the larger society.
Accompanied by Bernard Osei Kuffuor, Path-Finder leader, Justice Bediako Poku, PF leader in charge of boys and Lydia Owusu Ansah, PF Secretary the group sang and preached the word of God to inmates at the central prisons.
They also distributed gospel tracts and Christian educational booklets to the inmates.
INMATES:
Some elated inmates who spoke to the paper expressed their delight at the opportunity to hear the word of God.
They noted such visits make them feel loved and accepted by society.
”Despite our current distressing situation at the cells and the thought of being confined to a secluded place for such a long time I am not discouraged but rather encouraged by the gesture by many churches that take time to visit us yearly”, one noted amidst tears.
