The Cantonments Prisons Interdenominational Church as part of its 35th anniversary celebration has laid a foundation stone for the construction of a multi-purpose Library and Conference Centre for the Service and the general public.
The edifice, which is to be constructed at a cost of GH¢300,000, will be a three-storey structure that will house church offices, a classroom facility, library, a multi-purpose conference hall and a bay for outdoor activities.
Felicitations and Support
Speaking at the thanksgiving and fundraising service to round up activities of the celebration at the church in Accra recently, Member of Parliament for La-Dadekotopon Constituency, Honourable Vincent Odotei Sowah, who represented the First Lady, H.E. Rebecca Akufo-Addo, in a speech extended the felicitations of the First Lady to the church and the Prisons Service for the idea of building a library to serve as a centre for knowledge acquisition.
“During the 2016 electioneering campaign, one issue that kept coming up in my constituency was a library for the people, so I am excited the Prisons Service has come up with that idea, as it will not only serve members of the Service but also other members within the La-Dadekotopon constituency. The First Lady is through me pledging to support the project with fifty (50) bags of cement, and I also wish to pledge another fifty (50) bags to support the project,” Hon Odotei stated.
He also pledged to donate one heavy duty multi-functional photocopier to the Church as a sign of appreciation to the prisons community for voting for him to become a parliamentarian, and assured that he will support the Service when issues of bills and legislations concerning it come up in Parliament.
Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Honourable Alban Sumana Kinsford Bagbin, who also represented the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Ocquaye, congratulated the church and its members for the momentous occasion, and for laying a foundation stone for the construction of a multi-purpose edifice.
“I find the provision of a library very critical towards the realization of the reformation mandate of the Prisons Service. Libraries are avenues for knowledge acquisition and enhancement, and a fountain for self and national development. Therefore, the library will no doubt facilitate your efforts at using education as a tool for reformation”, Hon. Bagbin stated.
He admitted that, both the state and the Prisons Service alone cannot ensure the creation of effective measures and structures to reform prison inmates, but it is a collective responsibility of which all hands must be on deck.
The second deputy speaker assured the service that, “Parliament is ever ready to pass or approve bills, financial provisions and legislations to garner the much needed resources for a complete transformation of the Prisons Service. Parliament’s doors are opened, and you are always welcome to ask for our support to execute your mandate”.
Stone: News Desk