Apostle Dr. Isaac Owusu Bempah
Apostle Dr. Isaac Owusu Bempah, founder and head pastor of the Glorious Word and Power Ministries International, has on the occasion of his 50th Anniversary Celebration refurbished a clinic at the Ankaful Prisons Complex abandoned since 2007.
At a short ceremony to hand the clinic over to the Ghana Prisons Service, Apostle Dr. Owusu Bempah stated that he decided to commemorate his birthday with the gesture, as attending to prisoner healthcare was a fulfilment of scripture. He stated that, Christianity should affect all facets of society in a positive way. He mentioned that, his vision for his ministry is to make it a relevant stakeholder in sectors such as education, health and industry. He stated that, his church would soon begin projects in these fields to contribute its quota to nation building. He promised to renovate another structure close to the clinic to be used as wards for officers, their dependents and inhabitants of surrounding communities.
The Central Regional Commander of Prisons, DDP Cephas Mantey, in his speech, expressed appreciation to Apostle. Dr. Bempah for the gesture, stating that, prisoners in the four facilities within the Ankaful Prison Complex were mostly sent to hospitals in and around Cape Coast to receive healthcare. This he stated posed a security challenge as prisoners and officers alike were exposed to security hazards as those health facilities were far from prison establishments within the complex. He stated also that, a number of officers are assigned escorting duties at hospitals which affected staff requirements inside the prison yards. He appealed to corporate Ghana, NGOs and public spirited individuals to take interest in the affairs of the Ghana Prisons Service as according to him, they contribute substantially to the peace we enjoy in Ghana. He appealed for support in the area of inmate healthcare, trade learning workshops as well as welfare needs such as food, toiletries and drugs.
A Deputy Director General of Prisons, Mr. SK. Rabbles, who represented the Director General of Prisons, on his part mentioned that, the newly refurbished clinic would cater for the healthcare of about 1,800 inmates, 430 officers, their dependents as well as inhabitants of surrounding villages. He expressed appreciation at the gesture and implored on all to contribute their bit as the Ghana Prisons Service strives to cure the offending behaviours of inmates under its care.
Facilities within the complex were also presented with assorted provisions and toiletries to support the welfare needs of inmates. A Bible Centre was established at the Main Camp Prison to see to the spiritual lives of inmates in the facility.