The Church Donates Equipment for Inmate Rehabilitation in Ghana Prison

On March 17, 2025, inmates of the Wa Central Prison in the Upper West Region of Ghana received a donation of computer equipment, sewing machines, weaving looms and more from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The donation is to help with rehabilitation and allow inmates to acquire marketable skills so that, on their release, they have an opportunity to earn a living.

Recognizing the need to provide an efficient rehabilitation program, Reverand Frank Baazeng, Chaplain Assistant of the Wa Central Prisons, and James Teye Tetteh, Chaplain General of the Ghana Prisons Service, contacted the Church of Jesus Christ with a proposal for their humanitarian program. Because of previous donations made by the Church to other prisons, they were familiar with the Church’s mission to bless the lives of all God’s children, so they reached out for the help that the Church provided.

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At the donation ceremony, President Alexander K. Boateng, president of Ghana Kumasi Mission, reminded participants that the Church has been in Wa for approximately eight years and that its purpose is to bring others to Christ. He reminded them that Jesus lived with people from all walks of life, blessed them, and invited them to come to Him. 

President Boateng explained that serving the children of God is the same charge he gave to His Apostles, and that which members of the Church strive to fulfill today. He expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to fulfill that charge.

On behalf of Ghana Prison Services, Commander Tasembedo extended his heartfelt gratitude to the Church, saying that the donation will go a long way in enhancing the reformation and rehabilitation programs mandated by the Ghana constitution. He noted that by equipping the inmates with vocational and educational resources, the Church is not only addressing the immediate needs of the prison and its inmates but is also preparing them for successful integration into society upon their release.

He explained that the donation of computers will enhance inmates’ digital literacy and learning opportunities, empowering them with viable skills in today’s technologically driven world. Commander Tasembedo encouraged inmates to take full advantage of the tools and resources and acquire skills that will help them achieve a better future for themselves and their families, assuring them that their time there is not just about serving their sentences but about rebuilding their lives and future.

In conclusion, he expressed his sincerest gratitude to the Church for its kindness and commitment to social transformation, which aligns perfectly with Ghana Prison Services’ mission of transformation, rehabilitation and re-integration of the inmates into society. He expressed his deep appreciation for the Church and said that they are looking forward to more collaborative commitments in the near future.  Finally, he wished God’s blessings to those who contributed to the donations.

The Wa Central Prison was established in 1920 by the local government using ex-servicemen to provide security. At its founding, the prison consisted of only 3 cells and prisoners were fed by their families until 1934 when the Gold Coast government took over the prison, provided security personnel, and assumed responsibility for feeding the inmates. Today, the prison has 11 cells that house 174 inmates. It operates under the command of Alhaji D.D.P. Ousmane Tasembedo Esq., with 32 senior prison officers under him and officers of other ranks.