Having successfully led the way as a good shepherd and ensured that prison inmates feel dignified, loved and cared for, the International Prison Chaplains Association, IPCA Ghana, has every reason to celebrate its tenth anniversary in paying gratitude to God.

The programme which was held at the Ghana National Association of Teachers, (GNAT Hall) in Accra, was under the theme, 

“Breaking Chains, Building Hope – ten years of transforming lives.”  

It brought together IPCA members from Ghana, representatives from Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin, Congo and Gabon, with the International Vice President of IPCA Worldwide, Hon Rev Jean Didier Mboyo, and IPCA Denmark Chair, Chaplain, Mrs Louise Lysholm in attendance.

The Founding Chairman of lPCA  Ghana, Rev. Steve Mensah, said since getting involved in prison ministry satisfied the demands of Jesus Christ in the Bible, the task must be carried out with the cheerfulness it deserved.

He said Jesus Christ identified with prisoners because their conditions were likened to a state of hopelessness. 

He said some of the achievements made by IPCA Ghana over the period included, the establishment of a medical support for the inmates in the various prisons, facilitated educational initiatives for them, assisted in their nutritional needs, provided TV sets and dishes during the COVID 19 pandemic which enabled the inmates to listen to the gospel and other educational programmes, among others.

IPCA Denmark Chair, Chaplain, Mrs Louise Lysholm, who shared strategies to reduce recidivism and conditions which prevail in prisons in Denmark, said since it was damaging for people to be convicted, the Prison Service tried to work on the conscience of the inmates when they were brought in.

The Director- General of the Ghana Prison Service, Mrs Patience Baffoe- Bonnie in a speech read on her behalf by the Director of Health and Community Service, Mrs Fofo Tachie Otoo, commended the leadership and members of IPCA Ghana, for being a dependable and supportive partner. She said it was gratifying to note that when many people, including some Christians, shunned the company of prisoners, IPCA Ghana, solidly stepped in to lend its support.

A leading member of IPCA Ghana, Dcns Dr Mrs Angela Tena Mensah, coordinated the presentation of awards to the Founding Chair of IPCA Ghana, Rev. Steve Mensah, the Director-General of Ghana Prison Service, Mrs Patience Baffoe – Bonnie, Hon Rev. Jean Didier Mboyo, pioneer leaders and some individuals for their outstanding roles in the growth of the association.

SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS

You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.

Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27

The National Film Authority (NFA) is preparing to roll out a new initiative, dubbed ‘Cinema Train,’ to expand the exhibition of Ghanaian films beyond Accra and provide filmmakers with access to more screening venues across the country.

The initiative is being developed in partnership with the National Commission on Culture (NCC), which has facilities in nine of the former 10 regions of Ghana.

The Executive Secretary of the NFA, Ms Kafui Danku-Pitcher, said the Authority was currently scouting for suitable locations across the country as part of preparations for the programme.

She said the project was intended to address the shortage of exhibition spaces available to filmmakers and create opportunities for Ghanaian films to reach audiences outside the capital.

Ms Danku-Pitcher said the NFA was working with the NCC to identify existing facilities that could be converted into suitable venues for film exhibition.

She explained that some of the identified facilities required facelifts and technical improvements before they could meet the standards required for film screenings.

The upgrades, she said, would help improve the aesthetic appeal, comfort and technical capacity of the venues.

Ms Danku-Pitcher said the ‘Cinema Train’ would also provide a platform for the NFA to work with actors, filmmakers and other industry stakeholders on film distribution and exhibition.

She said the programme would be launched soon, adding that the initiative was expected to formalise the use of the identified spaces for film-related activities.

The Acting Executive Director of the NCC, Mr Wakefield Ackuaku, said the Commission’s network of cultural facilities provided an opportunity to support the initiative.

He said the facilities, which were located in nine of the former 10 regions, could be used by filmmakers and other creative industry practitioners.

Mr Ackuaku said the NCC was prepared to make the facilities available not only for film screenings but also for activities involving musicians, performers and other creatives.

He said the Commission did not require large financial deposits for programmes that were consistent with its mandate to preserve, promote and develop Ghanaian culture.

The arrangement, he said, was intended to encourage creatives to use the facilities and create more activities at the Centres for National Culture.

Mr Ackuaku said the initiative would help revive the use of the facilities, particularly beyond normal working hours, when many of the centres were not being fully utilised.

The partnership between the NFA and NCC is expected to create a network of venues that can support film exhibition across the country.

The ‘Cinema Train’ is also expected to give filmmakers opportunities to take their productions to new audiences while strengthening the distribution and exhibition side of Ghana’s film industry.

The initiative comes as stakeholders in the creative sector continue to explore ways of improving access to infrastructure and creating more avenues for locally produced films to reach the public.

The success of the project will depend on the upgrading of identified facilities and the establishment of a workable system for filmmakers and other creatives to use the spaces.

By Enoch Ntiamoah Siaw 

SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS

You can now read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.

Join our WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27