Minister for Trade and Industry, Alan Kyerematen, has donated a sum of ¢10,000 to support Oyerepa FM’s morning show ‘help me pay my fine’ initiative.
His donation adds up to another ¢10,000 which was raised by friends and supporters of the minister, bringing the total amount of money raised to about ¢20,000.
The Kumasi based radio station morning show crew launched an appeal for support to help defray the debt of prison inmates of the Kumasi Central Prison who were only imprisoned because of their failure to pay their fines per court orders.
The money raised was able to have 17 prison inmates freed.
The support group also made provision for counselling sessions for the ex-convicts.
Speaking to Daily Ghanaian Guide in an interview, Madam Gina Ankuma, likened Mr. Alan Kyerematen’s gesture to a Bible parable in Matthew 25:36 “… truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least…you did for me”.
“These ex-convicts are not hardened criminals rather, offenders who could not afford to pay their court fines which have landed them in prison” she said.
She added that most of the 17 ex-convicts in question are breadwinners of their respective families.
Their incarceration has therefore caused their dependents a great deal, hence the NPP stalwart and his supporters thought it wise to not only come to their aid but their families as well.
These 17 ex-convicts will also receive some financial aid to support themselves.
Source:dailyghanaianguide
