Crime Check Foundation takes psychosocial support to seven selected prisons

Accra: The Crime Check Foundation (CCF) has commenced the implementation of the Improving Access to Psycho-social Support and Arts Therapy Project for prison inmates in some seven selected prisons across the country.The Project being implemented in Nsawam, Kumasi, Koforidua, Winneba, Awutu, Ho, Sunyani Prisons, will increase psychosocial support to prisoners through individual and group psychotherapy by psychologists/psychiatrists and through arts therapy.Psycho-social supports help in managing stress, promoting self-awareness, coping skills, empowerment and personal growth.Mr. Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng- Executive Director, CCF was speaking at the launch of Foundation's Psychosocial Support And Arts Therapy Project In Prisons in collaboration with the Ghana Prisons Service with support from United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).He said, 'Mental health is a human right and the Foundation's work has identified many inmates with mental health issues in Ghana's prisons.'The Executive Director s aid the project was expected to improve psychosocial support and arts therapy for inmates with mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and other related conditions.Mr Kwarteng, who is also the Ambassador Extraordinaire for the Ghana Prisons Service, said inmates in beneficiary prisons would be screened to identify those who required support, and one documentary would be developed and aired as an advocacy tool.He said others are psychosocial support and arts therapy documents would be developed to provide support for beneficiary inmates.'There will be media awareness programmes to increase action of government institutions, CSOs, and other actors to further improve psychosocial support for inmates,' he added.He said the project would also include theatre and writing projects for prisoners together with universities.Mrs Helena Adobea Ofori, Representative from UNODC Ghana Office, said the UNODC project had three major pillars that aimed at promoting and enhancing Compliance with the Nelson Mandela Rules; classification which is the categorizationand treatment of prisoners based on an individualized assessment of risks and needs; and improving rehabilitation and social reintegration of prisoners.She said UNODC served as the custodian of these rules and sought to promote their practical application among member countries such as Ghana.She said UNODC outlined minimum prison conditions, provided guidance, and set clear benchmarks for prison staff on how to uphold safety, security and human dignity.Source: Ghana News Agency