PRESIDENT JOHN MAHAMA COMMISSIONS 300-CAPACITY DAMONGO CAMP PRISON

The President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, on Wednesday, November 5, 2025, officially commissioned the newly constructed 300-capacity Damongo Camp Prison in the Savannah Region. The facility, fully funded and built by The Church of Pentecost, forms part of the Church’s commitment to construct five correctional centres nationwide to enhance inmate rehabilitation and reintegration. The fourth of these facilities, located in Obuasi, is nearing completion.

In his address at the commissioning ceremony, President Mahama expressed profound appreciation to The Church of Pentecost for its continued collaboration with government and its dedication to improving the welfare and rehabilitation of inmates across the country.

The President also announced plans to introduce a parole system as part of a comprehensive prison reform programme aimed at enhancing conditions within Ghana’s correctional institutions. He explained that the parole initiative will serve as an incentive for good behaviour and facilitate smoother reintegration of inmates into society after serving part of their sentences.

President Mahama emphasized that the government’s prison reform agenda is guided by the belief that every Ghanaian, regardless of their circumstances, deserves dignity and a second chance. He further noted that the reforms will include expanding the use of alternative sentencing for minor and non-violent offences, as well as reviewing bail conditions to reduce undue hardship, particularly for the underprivileged.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to completing the 800-inmate remand prison at Nsawam, a project initiated during his previous tenure in 2016 but left incomplete in subsequent years.

“We are implementing far-reaching reforms which include expanding the use of alternative sentencing for minor and non-violent offences, reviewing bail conditions to prevent undue hardship especially for the poor and introducing a parole system to reward good behaviour and accelerate reintegration,” President Mahama stated.

The Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Mohammed Mubarak Muntaka, hailed the new facility as a “beacon of hope” and a reflection of the strong partnership between government and faith-based organizations. He commended the government for allocating ₵1 billion towards security sector development and for increasing the inmates’ feeding rate from ₵1.80 to ₵5.00 per day, a measure he said brings dignity and relief to prisoners under the Think Prison 360° initiative.

The Director-General of Prisons, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie (Esq.), praised The Church of Pentecost for its commitment to creating safer and more humane prison environments. She highlighted the facility’s focus on rehabilitation and skills training in areas such as sewing, welding, and carpentry. She also outlined ongoing efforts by the Ghana Prisons Service to address overcrowding, boost agricultural production for inmate feeding, and improve logistics under the Think Prisons 360 Degrees transformation agenda.

Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie appealed to government to designate November as Prison Awareness Month, approve a contagious disease allowance for prison officers, construct barracks for camp officers to enhance 24-hour security, and rehabilitate the 5-kilometre road linking the Damongo township to the prison.

The Chairman of The Church of Pentecost, Apostle Dr. Eric Nyamekye, described the initiative as a kingdom project rooted in compassion and societal transformation. Citing Abraham Lincoln, he remarked, “A day spent helping no one but yourself is a life wasted.” He urged Ghanaians to use their resources to bring hope to the vulnerable, noting that the Church’s interventions have helped release inmates with default warrants, reducing prison overcrowding from 50% in 2021 to 38% in 2025.

A representative of Yagbonwura Bii-Kunuto Jewu Soale I, Overlord of the Gonja Kingdom, Jira Sonyowura Adamu Bakari Kanyiti 1, expressed gratitude to The Church of Pentecost for its benevolence and called for continued religious tolerance, peace, and unity among Ghanaians.
The Damongo Camp Prison features two dormitory blocks, an infirmary, visitors’ lounge, chapel, baptistry, dining hall, football pitch, workshops, laundry, kitchen, computer lab, and an administration block with auxiliary offices.

Present at the ceremony were the Minister for Roads and Highways, Hon. Kwame Agbodza; Savannah Regional Minister, Mr. Salisu Be-Awuribe; the Chairman of the Prisons Service Council, Apostle Ing. Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi; members of executive council of the Church of Pentecost; members of the Prisons Directorate; security heads; the Damongowura, chiefs, government officials; and other distinguished guests