President John Dramani Mahama has announced that GH¢100 million has been included in the national budget to complete remand prison facilities next year.
Speaking on Saturday, he also called on churches and other religious organisations to support Ghana’s development by using their influence, resources and institutions to help address social, economic, healthcare and moral challenges alongside government.
Mr Mahama was speaking at the induction of Rev. Dr Stephen Yenusom Wengam for a second four-year term as General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, Ghana. Rev. Dr Wengam was re-elected in August with nearly 90 per cent of the vote.
The service was held at the Grand Arena of the Accra International Conference Centre, where the Assemblies of God’s new Executive Presbytery officers were also presented.
Rev. Dominic Yeo, Global Chairman of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship, officiated at the ceremony. First Lady Lordina Mahama attended with the President.
Reflecting on his first induction four years ago, Rev. Dr Wengam said Mr Mahama had then attended as a presidential candidate and special guest. He said it was significant that he had returned as President, describing the first term as “grace galore”.
Rev. Dr Wengam said the church had established 2,077 congregations, taking its total to 10,077, while membership had increased from about 812,254 to 1.2 million.
Since 2024, members have constructed 177 Legacy Temples for congregations that had previously worshipped under trees and in sheds. President Mahama and Mrs Mahama supported 10 of those projects, while Rev. Dr Wengam and his wife, Monica Wengam, funded another 10 from his headquarters salary.
He also said President Mahama had offered to lead fundraising for a Centenary City conference centre, which would accommodate about 6,000 people. The President had made clear, however, that public funds would not be used for the project.
The church will celebrate its centenary in 2031. Designs for the centre have been completed, while Seth Quaye, who is not a member of the church, donated the 137-acre site.
Rev. Dr Wengam said his second term would focus on a Transformation Agenda built around six pillars: reach, rebuild, restore, reposition, rebrand and reforms.
The Assemblies of God will also increase its contribution to the World Assemblies of God target of establishing one million new churches worldwide by 2033.
Rev. Dominic Yeo urged church members to play an active role in national development. In October, President Mahama pardoned 863 prisoners as part of commemorations for the 70th independence anniversary.
