The head pastor of the Perez Chapel International, Tamale branch, Rev. Dr. Joshua Mogre and few Old Achimota Students of the 2001/2002 academic year group have on Friday, 19th of July 2024, paid various court fines to set three convicts free from jail at the Tamale Central Prison.

Rev. Dr. Mogre, his church members and the Old Students came together to settle GH 3,600.00 to effect the release of Saani Muazu, 20, Musah Emmanuel, 23; and Shaibu Abdul Karim, 25, from the Tamale Central Prison. In addition, each released convict was given GH 800.00 to restart life as they re-integrate into the community.

The three convicts were serving various terms of imprisonment after defaulting in the payment of fines upon being convicted of their respective offences.

Rev. Dr. Joshua Mogre asserted that the initiative to release the three convicts was a fulfilment of holy scripture in coming to the aid of the vulnerable and the imprisoned as stipulated in Mathew 25v35-41.

He added that two third of the bible scriptures is a testimony of prisoners who got converted after they encountered Christ and hopes that the release of the three convicts will help reform their lives to impact society positively.

He also appealed to the government to consider non-custodial sentences to petty theft in order to decongest the Prisons and also lessen the burden on government in taking care of prisoners.

The Northern Regional Commander of Prisons, DDP. Thompson Otsyokpo who released the prisoners, expressed gratitude to Rev. Dr. Mogre, his church and the school mates for this special intervention and advised the released convicts to stay away from crime and be law abiding citizens.

DDP. Otsyokpo also used the opportunity to appeal to non-governmental organizations, faith based organizations, corporate organizations and well to do individuals to emulate the gesture of Rev. Dr. Joshua Mogre and his team and also come to the aid of prisoners.

Sompaonline.com/Nana Yaw Boamah