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BELOVED PRAYER PARTNERS, International Christian
Cooperative Ministries Incorporated (ICCMI) is 10 years old. We got our ministry
registered with the Registrar General
Department of the Ghana Government in 1996.This was after JONI and Friends
Ministry to people A Calling
One year later, I left the Tema Naval Base after serving as
the Naval Base Chaplain (Eastern Naval Command) for 15 years. The Tema Industrial
Mission had seconded me to the Tema Naval Base as a Chaplain. Prior to my
resignation, the Lord led me in writing a brochure for ICCMI in which He spoke
to me to run this ministry to reach out to our target groups. Our Mission Statement came
out to be, " Working together as God's people with compassionate heart to
minister God's Word to people in need of both spiritual and material
support" This was by God's leading. Our emphasis is "Total
commitment to the Great Commission and provision of empowering tools to the
believer in Christ". Our Aims and Objectives
are: To promote the spiritual,
moral and economic standards of our target groups. To provide, train enhance
spiritual growth, assist the poor, the needy, the sick, people with disabilities
and the under privileged. To establish rehabilitation and After care homes,
settlement camps for our target groups, i.e. street children, homeless,
refugees, converted prostitutes and ex-convicts. We establish cooperation
with both local and international organizations, individuals and churches toward
the achievement of our goals. Ministry to people with
physical challenges: Currently we minister to people with disabilities. We held
our 10th Annual Easter Camp meeting this year at the Akropong School for the
Blind. During Easter period, we bring together many people with visual
impairment, both children and adult together with their guides to share the Word
of God with them and the counsel them. We have given hope to participants for
the past 10 years. During camp meetings we provide accommodation and feed
participants, teach vocational skills including production of soap,pomade and
powder which we then sent to prison inmates. Same program is organized for
people in wheelchairs annually during Christmas holidays. Radio Ministry
Our ministry features
currently on two Radio Stations. We used to speak on one other Radio station.
However, we are now on Channel R, 92.7 FM and Eastern 105.1 FM. On Channel R,
92.7 FM, we present 15 minutes morning devotion on Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays between 7.15 a.m. and 7.30 am. We
then continue with the Program "Christian perspective" between 8.30 am
and 9.30 am. (Mon., Wed., Fri.) This is a phone in program in which Christians
share their views on specific issues. Also we present a special program
"Help From Above" on Mondays 11.00 am to 12 noon. This program deliberate on needs of people and encourage listeners to come to their aid. Many needy people have received help through this program. On Eastern 105.1 FM, we
present a weekly Sunday program "
Awurade Ahenfie " literally, "God's
Palace". This one-hour program focuses on important issues on moral and
spiritual issues. We have been invited to participate in reviewing some of the
Ghanaian News paper at this station. We have been in the radio ministry for
10 years. PRISON MINISTRY
We have been in Prison
Ministry since 1997. Our prison ministry has been involved in Bible studies,
discipleship, and worship services. We do special counseling for both inmates
and ex-convicts. We have established "New Life Bible School" in the
biggest facility in Ghana, Nsawam Medium Security Prison. Over 2400 inmates have
completed the various kinds of Bible correspondence courses we offered. (Thanks
to Source of Light Ministries, Emmaus courses provided by Challenge Enterprise
in Ghana.) We are planing to seek to partner with "Overcomers Recovery
Support Program" to use their training manual "A Dailly Choice"
pray with us.
PRISON MINISTRY TRAINING/CONFERENCES ICCMI National Coordinator
within 10 years attended and participated various prison ministry training and
conferences. These include Good News Jail and Ministry (GNJPM) training in
Bristol, US, GNJPM conference in Florida, US, Two Coalition of Prison
Evangelists International and one Regional conferences (all in the US),
International prison ministry conference at Sandy Cove, US, Aurora Ministries
Prison training at Gull Lake, SW Michigan, US. American Jail Association
training in Kansas City in the US. Chaplain
David is also related to American Correctional Association. We have an Associate
Chaplain Supt. James Tetteh who currently liaises between our Prison ministry
and the Ghana Prisons Service. Our prison Ministry is known as Good News Jail
and Prison Ministry (GNJPM). Chaplain David Ofosuhene National Coordinator of
ICCMI is also coordinating some of the Ghana Prisons Discharge Boards in the
country. Our ministry also supports activities of the Discharge Boards. We
currently have 17 full time chaplains and 18 volunteers assisting the GNJPM
National Director Rev, Supt. James Tetteh. ICCMI in partnership with
the Ghana Prisons Service, invited Coalition of Prison Evangelists International
Directors to Ghana. This was after ICCMI became a member of COPE International.
Through ICCMI efforts we now have COPE Ghana. Chaplain David Ofosuhene is
the Vice Chairman of COPE Ghana. We
have gone into partnership with HEIFER International one other organization that
has established a Rabbit, sheep, goats and fowls poultry farms in two prison
camps. Our ministry is been challenged to set up After care home for the
ex-convicts that would be trained in the two facilities. Mary Ann Founder and
Director of Angel Touch Ministries from Decatur in the US was in Ghana last year
to see the possibility of establishing an After care in Ghana. Our ministry
assisted her by driving her to six female facilities in Ghana at the permission
of Ghana Prisons Service. PROPOSED PROJECTS ICCMI acquired a three and
half acre land four years ago. The land is for the purpose of putting up a
Rehabilitation certer and an Aftercare home. A church ACHIEVEMENTS In all God has used our
ministry to become much blessings to individuals (people with both physical and
spiritual challenges, prisoners and ex-convicts) Some received wheel chairs,
crutches, calipers, medical assistance and many more. Churches, schools for
people with physical challenges (Schools for the blind, Akropong Akuapem and
School for the Deaf, Mampong Akuapem are our beneficiaries. Ghana Prison Service has
benefited immensely from our ministry and trust that that God will continue to
use our ministry to bless society. THANKSGIVING SERVICE. We are planning a
thanksgiving Service on the last Sunday of December this year, 2006. Meanwhile
we wish to thank the following individuals and organization that are receiving
this News Letter, SINCERELY for being part of our success story. Continue to
pray with us. GOD BLESS YOU RICHLY Praise, Honor and Power
belong to our God. Amen! David and Irene Missionaries ICCMI
Chaplain David Ofosuhene with Ron Harr 11/20/05 Radio broadcast live to Ghana, West Africa from Johnson City, Tennessee.
This was amazing as it was a live one hour broadcast via telephone on the "Eastern FM" radio,(105.1 FM) in Koforidua, the eastern regional capital, Ghana, West Africa. Chaplain David represents International Christian Cooperative Ministries and is Associate Pastor, Ghana Police church, Koforidua and also Vice Chairman COPE Ghana, West Africa. COPE is Coalition of Prison Evangelists.
Above we are preparing for live broadcast. Below Bro. Danny Barclay preparing for live broadcast Sunday Nov. 20, 2005
Ghana Prison Chaplains working with David (below)
There are 45 facilities run by Ghana Prison Services. In the year 2003, cumulative lockup of inmates was 4,028,870 with an average daily lockup of 10,677. The total convict population was 7,850 covering about 7500 male and 257 female. Out of the 10,677 in daily lockup some 2,813 were on remand (jail). Average daily juvenile lockup was about 140 cumulative monthly and annual lockups was between 4,200 and 51,000 respectively. Altogether, 80 percent were first offenders, 15 percent 2nd offenders, and 4.8 percent recidivists. Major offenses included stealing, assault, murder, robbery, narcotic, manslaughter, fraud, threat or death, unlawful entry, causing harm, causing damage, conspiracy, rape and defilement. the offenders range from 18-65 years of age. I visit most of the prisons in Ghana and work with other prison chaplains assisting the Ghana Prison Service in areas of reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of ex-convicts into the larger society. The government needs help in the areas of supply of medicine, inmates clothing, and education including skills development. Workshops or rehabilitation schools do not exist in most of our facilities. Existing workshops are not equipped to attain the desired result on the rehabilitation of inmates. A greater percentage of inmates had no formal education before their incarceration. In view of this, the Ghana Prisons Service has permitted the introduction of a coalition of prison evangelists (COPE GHANA) to collaborate with the Ghana Prison Services in its mission to reform, rehabilitate convicts, and reintegrate ex-convicts into the society, we also are desirous of working together to ensure restorative justice for all mankind. After having the opportunity to tour some facilities in the United States, including facilities in the state of Texas, I admit Ghana as a nation is much behind the time and would need the advanced countries to help us. We are concerned about the youthful looking, uneducated inmates who are serving between 2 and 20 years. article by David Ofosuhene
Update 6/09/2006 P rayer and Mission Partners,All THINGS WORKING TOGETHER FOR GOOD! Some of you praying daily with me know I am presently in the US. The Enrichment Seminar organized by the Aurora Ministries ended successfully at the Gull Lake Christian Center, near Kalamazoo in Michigan. Aurora Ministries sponsored my participation (accommodation and feeding) for 3 days. I was responsible for the cost of my flight from Africa. Certificates were awarded to participants after the 3 days intensive teaching on how to counsel prison inmates from the Bible. Thanks be to God for the wonderful and spirit filled lectures by Dr. Stuart Scott (Seminary Professor) and Chaplain Richard Hines. I am at the Family Empowerment Council Inc. in Middletown, New York State currently understudying Disability ministry. This is to help me in the establishment of a rehabilitation center that would include a place for people with physical and other challenges on the three and half acre land acquired three years ago. WELL PROJECT: Unfortunately this expected project on the three and half acre land has not started yet. God only knows. A church in Oregon intended to help in the project. An organization in Ghana came to do a feasibility study and the report was said to have been sent to Oregon. However, nothing is heard about the outcome of the report. PRAY WITH US. Mr. Benjamin Quaye, Director of Operations, Ghana Prisons Service is currently on vacation and would be representing me at the Coalition of Prison Evangelists conference in Scotland June 22-26. This is because I arrived in Ghana June 21 and meet with two missionaries from New Zealand the next day to assist in their 12 days of missions in Ghana. Rev. Simonne Dyer and Missionary Joan Bayes would hold conferences with Women's Aglow group and Christian Queenmothers in Ghana. Remember! We are working together as God's people with compassionate heart to minister God's Word to Believers in Christ and others in need of both spiritual and material support. We establish cooperation with local and International Christian organizations, individuals and churches to provide assistance to the needy, afflicted, the sick, physically challenged, prisoners, street children and the underprivileged, constantly encouraging them to live by the Word of God. GREETINGS. David Ofosuhene International Christian Cooperative Ministries
Contact Info: David Ofosuhene International Christian Cooperative Ministries P. O. Box 219 Aburi-Akuapem Ghana, West Africa Tel: 233-876-22100 233-244-138573 Fax: 233-22-200095 http://prisonministries.net/ghana.htm http://prisonministry.net/iccm
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