Reverend Derek Mereku Baptises 55 Prisoners in Ghana prision

Some of the inmates being baptized by Reverend Derek Mereku

Some 55 male Christian inmates have been baptized at the James Camp Prisons in the Nyaho area.

Reverend Derek Mereku of the Church of Pentecost-La branch performed the baptism for 45 inmates of the churchwhile other denominations also took the opportunity to baptize their members.

The remaining denominations included the Methodist Church of Ghana, Presbyterian Church of Ghana, Seventh Day Adventist, and Global Evangelical Ministry.

This was after the Church Of Pentecost commissioned a GH¢4500 baptistery for the inmates.

The church also provided food items, detergents and used clothing valued GH¢1500 to them.

Giving a sermon to prepare the converts for baptism, reverend Derek Mereku urged the inmates not to see prison as a curse.

He said the camp is to be seen as a transformational centre that would change them from their old ways.

“Some of you are here by your own deeds while others were innocent but could not defend yourselves. If you did nothing wrong but you were wrongfully sentenced, do not be disturbed,” he urged the inmates.

Using Joseph in the bible as an example, Reverend Mereku said Jesus Christ knows their worries and would deliver them.

He said no one can see God unless they have a repented heart.

“You are here to be reformed, stay focused and God will accept you,” he observed.

Adding her voice the Deputy Director of Prisons (DDP) in charge of James Camp, Josephine Fredua-Agyemang said the baptism is a first for the camp.

She expressed joy that at least the inmates have received salvation.

“Those here are safe and sound. Some have changed from their old ways and have been reformed.”

She averred that the camp also gives vocational training to the inmates to equip them for the future.

Some of the vocations include carpentry, block molding, farming, piggery and rabbit rearing.

She noted that the only challenge is how to equip the carpentry shop with tools and get funds to purchase the materials for work.

DDP Fredua-Agyemang said their sick bay also needs enough drugs to serve the 354 inmates serving various sentences at the camp.

She urged individuals to help build an Information Telecommunication Technology Centre (ICT) and a library there since most of the inmates like reading.