Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has urged officers of the Ghana Prisons Service to treat inmates with dignity and provide them with opportunities for rehabilitation and successful reintegration into society. She emphasized that humane treatment of inmates is a fundamental responsibility of the Service. The Vice President made these remarks at the graduation parade of 609 officer cadets from Intakes 33, 34 and 35 at the Premier Centre for Prisons and Correctional Innovations at Fumso in the Ashanti Region.
The graduating cohort comprised 392 males and 217 females, who were commissioned into the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Prisons. Prof. Opoku-Agyemang assured that the government is committed to working with the Service to improve staff welfare, strengthen institutional capacity, provide essential equipment and promote professional development. She stressed that the government recognizes the importance of improving conditions in the country’s prisons to support effective rehabilitation.
The Vice President announced the commissioning of the Damongo Camp Prison and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to completing the remand facility at Nsawam. She called for sustained efforts to improve case management, address overcrowding and develop viable alternatives to custodial sentencing. This, she believes, will help ensure that inmates have the opportunity to become productive members of society.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang appealed to the public to desist from stigmatising former inmates and instead support their reintegration into society after serving their sentences. She noted that the government has provided tractors, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs to support farming activities in the prisons. This initiative aims to increase food production within the facilities while equipping inmates with practical agricultural and vocational skills.
The Vice President emphasized that accountability and public safety must remain central to prison administration. She urged the leadership of the Service to ensure that rehabilitation initiatives are supported by comprehensive staff training. According to her, promotion is not merely a reward for past achievements, but a solemn commitment to upholding even higher standards of duty.
The event was attended by the Minister for the Interior, Alhaji Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, and other senior officials of the Service. The Vice President's visit to the Premier Centre for Prisons and Correctional Innovations highlights the government's commitment to reforming the country's prison system.
The Ghana Prisons Service has taken a significant step towards enhancing its capacity with the graduation of 609 officer cadets. The Service is expected to continue playing a critical role in the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates into society.
Key points
- The government has provided tractors, fertilisers and other agricultural inputs to support farming activities in the prisons.
- The Vice President urged prison officers to uphold inmate dignity and support rehabilitation efforts.
- The government has commissioned the Damongo Camp Prison and is committed to completing the remand facility at Nsawam.
