Current Prison Ministry Projects

The Prison Ministry of Ghana is continuing to develop projects and programs tailored for the unique needs, situation, and environment of individual prisons. The ministry invests heavily in trade-training projects in the prisons to equip inmates with trade skills for self-employment when they are released. The Ministry also invests in projects to improve life of the inmates and officers living and working within the prisons.

A literacy program has been initiated for the Borstal Institute, the nation's juvenile correctional institution in Accra. It was coordinated by the prison's Chaplain and is staffed by retired teachers. The Borstal Institute, Nsawam Condemned and Main blocks and the Wa prison have all been equipped with televisions.

James Camp prison has developed a plan to raise rabbits at the prison for both food and for sale on the local market. The Prison Ministry has recently funded the initial materials for housing, raising, feeding, and breeding rabbits as well as for training inmates.

The officers at Akuse prison began building a church and are halfway finished. The Ministry will be funding the completion of the facility and providing video and television equipment to provide Biblical teaching and evangelism.

Two large gas stoves were obtained for James Fort Male Prison to replace firewood for cooking. This has eliminated smoke from the kitchen filling the prison.

The Prison Ministry began a campaign in 2001 to purchase Bibles for interested inmates called "Feeding the 5000." So far about 4000 Bibles have been procured, some are in English, and some in local languages (Ga, Eve, Tre) but all are printed in Accra for about $3 per Bible. This project is supported by Churches and individuals especially in the USA. The St. Andrews Presbyterian Church of Newport Beach California, First Presbyterian Church, Slidell and Covington Faith Presbyterian Church have made large contributions to this project. The Bible Society of Ghana gave a huge discount for Bibles purchased. We gratefully acknowledge the active interest of Bible Society of Ghana and their invaluable partnership in this mission.

Medical and Health Services

Major feature of the ministry had been the care of sick inmates and officers especially in Accra, Sekondi-Takoradi and Cape Coast. Dr. Ben Baako and other medical staff give inmates first-class care at the Korle-Bu teaching Hospital. Prescribed medications not available at the hospital have been purchased for patients. World Vision Ghana, on many occasions, provided large quantity of medical supplies for health care of inmates through their Gift-In-Kind program. Doctors in Sekondi/ Takoradi and in Cape Coast offer free medical services to inmates and officers in the prisons in these regions. In 1998 a significant milestone in the history of the ministry occurred with the renovation of the Nsawam surgical theatre, the clinic and the infirmary in collaboration with the Gateway Chapter of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship International. This enables minor surgical procedures (such as hernias) to be carried at Nsawam by our team of doctors led by Dr. Ben Baako and the Rev. Professor Adukwei Hesse. Many lives have been saved through this gracious service and many more have received healing with grateful thanks.

Principle funding for these and other projects comes from American (approx. 75%) and Ghanian church partners. Donated items such as clothing, books, and personal items are given out to inmates regardless of religious faith or nationality.

Ongoing Prison Ministry Projects

Major work projects have been instituted in various prisons over the last 10 years.
    1994 Snail/Mushroom projects
    1994 Commercial Baking projects
    1995 Snail/Bee projects
    1997 Vegetable farm projects
    1999 Concrete block making and cloth-weaving

The bakery projects have been the greatest success thus far. Nsawam Female Prison, Ho, Kumasi, and Sunyani Female Prisons make bread, in ovens provided by the Prison Ministry. Inmates eat and sell the bread on the local market, as well as share profits with other prisons. Ovens in Ho, Sunyani, and Kumasi female prisons have worn out and the Prison Ministry has replaced them. In general, women have been more successful with these projects.

Prison Ministry Retreats

The Prison Ministry sponsors a weekend long retreat every year at the Presbyterian Women's Center at Abokobi that includes volunteers, prison officers and staff, and honored guests. The retreat allows training in evangelism, time for team-building, a time to reflect on the problems and successes of the past year and for strategic planning for the upcoming year. Most importantly, it provides an opportunity for fellowship, prayer, and affirmation to our volunteers that their ministry is truly an answer to God's call.

The Ten Churches To Support Ten Regions

Our 'dream' is for ten Churches in the US to support our ministry in each of the ten regions in Ghana. Each of the ten US Churches will partner directly with the team in a region in Ghana for evangelism. It is expected also that this ministry will involve partnership with mainline churches in Ghana, major churches adopting a prison or prison cell for mission. The 'dream' funding is $2500 dollars per year for a fixed number of years. The prison projects developed through his partnership would help the prison ministry team in that region to become self-financing. Although many Churches in the U.S.A. now know about the Ghana Prison ministry, there has not been any concrete offer in fulfillment of this mission. But the Lord will provide in His own time. This project will be pursued in the next 10-year vision plan.