Mahama announces GH¢100m to complete remand prisons next year

President John Dramani Mahama announced on Saturday that GH¢100 million has been allocated in the budget to complete remand prison facilities, with plans to finish the project next year. The announcement came during the induction ceremony of Rev. Dr Stephen Yenusom Wengam, who was re-elected for a second four-year term as General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Ghana. Wengam received nearly 90% of the votes in the election held in August.

The President urged churches, as well as other religious bodies, to contribute to social, economic, healthcare and moral issues alongside the government. He emphasized the importance of putting their influence, money and institutions into these areas. The Assemblies of God stated that the service to induct Wengam took place at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre on Saturday morning, with the new Executive Presbytery officers being presented during the same event.

Rev. Dominic Yeo, the Global Chairman of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, officiated at the ceremony, which was attended by First Lady Lordina Mahama.

Wengam recalled his first induction four years ago, when Mahama was a presidential candidate and special guest. He stated that it was significant that Mahama is now the President and celebrated the first term as "grace galore." During the first term, the church planted 2,077 congregations, bringing the total to 10,077, and membership increased from 812,254 to 1.2 million. Since 2024, members have built 177 Legacy Temples for congregations that previously met under trees and in sheds.

The President and Mrs Mahama supported 10 of these Legacy Temples. Wengam and his wife, Monica Wengam, gave 10 from his headquarters salary. The President offered to lead fundraising for a Centenary City conference centre with a capacity of about 6,000 people, noting that the state would not spend public money on it. The church's centenary is planned for 2031, with designs already ready.

Seth Quaye, who is not a member, donated the 137-acre site for the project. Wengam explained that the second term of his leadership would focus on a Transformation Agenda, encompassing six pillars: reach, rebuild, restore, reposition, rebrand and reforms. The church also aims to contribute to the World Assemblies of God's target of establishing one million new churches worldwide by 2033.