President John Dramani Mahama has announced that GH¢100 million has been allocated in the next national budget to complete the abandoned remand prison project at Nsawam.
The President said the project, which was started during his previous administration, was abandoned after his government left office, but would be completed next year.
He made the announcement when he addressed the induction ceremony of Reverend Stephen Wengam for his second term as General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Ghana and the new Executive Presbytery.
President Mahama explained that the decision to construct a separate remand facility followed concerns raised by Reverend Wengam about the practice of keeping remand prisoners and convicted inmates in the same facility.
“Reverend Wengam drew my attention to the fact that remand prisoners and convicted prisoners were all housed in the same prison,” he said.
The President stressed that people on remand had not been convicted of any crime and should not be treated in the same way as convicted prisoners.
“And remand prisoners have not been convicted, and so they are not criminals. But convicted prisoners, you can say, are criminals. And so if you put still innocent people with convicted people, then it’s not a good mix,” he stated.
He said the government had therefore started the construction of a new remand prison at Nsawam but the project was abandoned after the previous administration left office.
“And so we started the new remand prison in Nsawam. After we left office, it was abandoned, and I’m happy to say that we will complete it next year,” President Mahama added.
He commended Reverend Wengam for his contribution to prison reform through his work with the Prisons Council, particularly the Project Efiase initiative, which he said reflected concern for the dignity and rehabilitation of people who were easily forgotten.
The President also praised the Assemblies of God Ghana for its contribution to society, revealing that the church had planted more than 2,000 churches and trained over 440 pastors in the past four years.
He congratulated Reverend Wengam on his re-election, describing the second term as an opportunity to deepen reforms, strengthen local congregations and improve the welfare of pastors and their families.
President Mahama further urged the church to support young people through mentorship, apprenticeship opportunities and guidance in establishing sustainable businesses.
He also called on religious leaders to continue contributing to national development through education, healthcare and community support, while urging Ghanaians to protect the country’s peaceful coexistence among Christians, Muslims and other religious communities.
The ceremony marked Reverend Wengam’s induction into his second term as General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God Ghana.
