Accra: The Ghana Prisons Service recently held its first strategic meeting with former Director-Generals and senior officers to present its new reform agenda and operational priorities. The meeting, led by Director-General of Prisons, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, aimed to update both retired and current leadership on various initiatives, including Think Prisons 360 Degrees, rebranding, welfare enhancement, industrialization, wealth creation, and advocacy efforts.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie expressed gratitude for the support of former officials throughout her career and outlined ambitious plans for improving inmate welfare and expanding agricultural programs. She highlighted that a slot for 6,000 individuals has been secured through the Coding program to provide training in computer-related courses. Other ongoing projects include the DG's Kitchen initiative to enhance inmate nutrition via small-scale farming, a Creative Arts program for rehabilitation, and a Drug Bank Project aimed at supplying prison infirmaries with essential medications through pharmaceutical partnerships.
The strategic meeting also revealed significant land acquisition efforts, with 1,000 acres secured in Anum for an agricultural training school and over 1,000 acres in the Northern Region awaiting documentation. The Land Bank Project is intended to support farm development, camp prisons, and staff accommodation. Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie emphasized plans to assume management of prison schools in collaboration with the Ghana Education Service, which includes establishing nursery facilities for officers' children.
She also acknowledged the Ministry of Agriculture's support for the 'Akoko Nkiti Kiti' initiative, which involved donations of fertilizers, two mini tractors, birds, and cages. Additionally, a scholarship package from Metropolitan University has been allocated to 60 beneficiaries including officers, their dependents, and inmates.
Former Director-General and Member of Parliament for Nandom, Mr. Richard Kuuire, praised the initiative to involve retired leadership. Mr. B.T. Baba, another former Director of Prisons, and other attendees pledged to use their influence to advocate for governmental support. All former Director-Generals present commended the current administration's dedication and pledged their continued support for advancing the reform agenda.
