Tamale: The third phase of the Harnessing Opportunities for Prisoners and Ex-Convicts (HOPE) project has been launched in Tamale to improve the welfare of inmates and ex-convicts across the Northern Region.
According to Ghana News Agency, this new phase aims to expand interventions to reduce recidivism, improve mental health, and empower former inmates through skills training and community reintegration. The project is being implemented by CSD Reform in collaboration with key partners including the Skills Training Unit of the Tamale Central Prison, Legal Aid Commission, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, Ghana Enterprises Agency, Tamale Vocational Training Institute, Centre for National Culture, and the media.
Funded by Misereor, the project seeks to improve access to justice for prisoners, promote community reintegration of released inmates, restore human rights and dignity, and create economic and employment opportunities for ex-convicts. Mr. Emmanuel Mbo Dome, the HOPE project Manager, speaking during the launch, said it would strengthen the institutional capacity of prison paralegal units to provide free legal services to at least 450 prisoners and remand inmates. He emphasized the project's focus on enhancing reintegration through trauma healing, psychosocial support, and stigma reduction, as well as improving access to vocational training and business development services.
Mr. Nereous Daguah, the Head of Programmes at CSD Reform, provided an overview of the achievements from the first two phases, which included legal assistance for 114 remand prisoners, training for 10 paralegal officers, and business and record-keeping training for 56 beneficiaries. He highlighted that 260 individuals received psychosocial support, 10 beneficiaries were awarded livelihood grants, 92 start-up kits were distributed, and 135 individuals obtained National Vocational Training Institute certification. Mr. Daguah also raised concerns about the low feeding grant of GHc1.80 per prisoner, calling it an affront to the country's human rights protection record.
Deputy Director of Prisons (DDP), Mr. Joseph Asabre, the Northern Regional Commander of the Ghana Prisons Service, commended CSD Reform and its partners for championing reform initiatives that empowered inmates and ex-convicts. He praised the project's provision of legal support, trauma healing, and vocational opportunities. Mr. Alidu Bawa, a beneficiary of the previous phases of the project and now a certified electrician, shared his testimony, describing how the HOPE project helped him rebuild his life after 15 years in prison. He noted that it sharpened his electrical skills and provided him with the tools needed to support his family, allowing him to operate within his community without stigma or discrimination.
