Methodist Women’s Fellowship supports Akuse Prisons

The Methodist Church Ghana Connexional Women’s Fellowship has presented items worth GH¢10,000 to the Akuse Prisons in the Lower Manya Krobo Municipality.

The items, which included maize, both local and perfumed rice, sugar, cooking oil, soap, shea butter, groundnut paste, bathing sponge and sanitary pads, were meant to assist the Prison Service in catering for the inmates.

The presentation formed part of the Connexional delegates conference of the Women’s Fellowship at Somanya on the theme, “The Women’s Fellowship in perspective; As witness for church growth and development’’.

As part of the visit to the Akuse Prisons, the delegates interacted with the inmates, had devotion with them and shared the word of God.

The President of the Connexional Women’s Fellowship, Sister Alice Addo, urged the inmates not to be down hearted because of the situation they found themselves in adding that every situation was a learning opportunity.

Stigma

The Lay Chairman of the Somanya Diocese of the Methodist Church, Mrs Agnes Akweley Attipoe, said the government alone could not take care of the inmates and, therefore, there was the need for groups and organisations such as the Women’s Fellowship to help.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Henry Darko, in charge of Religious Affairs of the Akuse Prisons, who received the items praised the Women’s Fellowship for its kind gesture and said that was the largest donation received so far.

He said the mandate of the Service was to reform prisoners while they were in custody but society stigmatised them when they were released, stating: “Society out there thinks the ex-convicts are still a threat to them and that is why some of them still commit the same crimes or engage in worse things.’’

Prisoners unhappy

The prisoners, however, expressed the fear that the items might not be used for their upkeep.

“In fact, if we had known that you were bringing food items, including rice especially, we would have told you to cook it before you bring it. Our officers will never and ever use these items in our interest but it will all land in their various homes. This has been happening all the time, so even though you thought of us as prisoners, indirectly you thought of our Prison officers. It’s a pity,’’ one of them stated.