We’ll transform Buea Central Prison into a school- Superintendent

Senior Prisons Administrator, Thierry Joel Fopa, Superintendent of the Buea Central Prison has said plans are a foot to transform the prison into a school, a veritable centre of learning.

He mentioned that in 2015, 10 inmates of the prison will sit the GCE Ordinary Level.

He made this public on December 26 during the official launching of the charity arm of the Catholic Diocese of Buea, referred to in Latin as ‘CARITAS’.

The official launching of the activities of CARITAS coincided with the annual Christmas visit by the Bishop of Buea, Immanuel Balanjo Bushu to the prison every December 26.

The CARITAS family took desktop computers, cartons of soap, chairs and tables among the food items to the inmates. Members of the Catholic Women Association (CWA), priests, reverent brothers and sisters, members of the Saint Jude Apostolate and other members of the Roman Catholic family in the diocese gave huge quantities of food items to the inmates.

Assorted food items like rice, garri, sugar, packs of soft drinks, vegetable oil, detergents, toiletries, beddings and clothing were included.

According to the Bishop, the donations were made possible thanks to support from the Italian Episcopal Conference (La Conferencia Episcopalia Italiano).

Given the solemnity of the occasion and the joy of the season, the Bishop edified the inmates during a solemn mass at the courtyard of the prison.

Bishop Bushu challenged the inmates to remain strong and steadfast in God and to adhere strictly to the teachings of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Holy Bible, adding that being in prison does not mean the end of the world for them.

Three inmates of the prison were together with other Christians from the Buea Town Parish administered the sacrament of confirmation.

The Superintendent of the prison thanked the Bishop for keeping the tradition of communing with the inmates every December 26 for the past six years. He described as enriching the bi-weekly masses said in the chapel of the prison. He went on to thank and assure the benefactors that the items received will be put to use to the benefit of the inmates.

On his part, Pierre-Ernest Tchinda, Director of CARITAS of the Diocese of Buea pledged his institution’s continuous support to the prison family. He said they will continue to contribute to see that the inmates get a balanced diet, get medical attention, and that the inmates are given proper psychological assistance.

CARITAS, the director said, will invest in the training of the inmates in profit-making activities so that they can better insert themselves into society when they are freed.

Williams Egbe, on behalf of his fellow inmates thanked the Bishop and CARITAS for sharing with them the joy of Christmas, but went on to plead for more assistance.

Bishop Bushu symbolically served food to some inmates, before feasting and merriment took centre stage.