Tamale: The Northern Region Chapter of the Mandela Washington Fellowship Association of Ghana has commemorated this year's Nelson Mandela International Day by extending support to officers and inmates at the Tamale Central Prisons. The Association donated essential items to the facility, including mattresses, a blood pressure monitor, a blood glucose monitor, an infrared thermometer, and other medical consumables aimed at improving healthcare delivery within the prison.
According to Ghana News Agency, the Association partnered with the Total Life Enhancement Centre, a psychology-focused NGO, to deliver a health education session on stress management for prison officers. Additionally, the Association painted the facility's infirmary to enhance its appearance and provide a more serene environment for both staff and inmates. This year's Nelson Mandela International Day was observed under the theme: 'It's Still in Our Hands to Combat Poverty and Inequity'.
Mrs. Blessilla Na-afoe Kandoh, a member of the Association, speaking during the exercise in Tamale, said the initiative followed a needs assessment that revealed rising mental health concerns among prison officers. She noted that unmanaged stress could significantly affect their well-being and ability to properly care for inmates, hence the intervention. She called on members of the public to complement the efforts of the government to ensure that the prisons were well equipped to support the wellbeing of inmates.
Mrs. Sylvia Phaphali Adzitey, a 2023 Mandela Washington Fellow, emphasised the importance of volunteerism and urged medical professionals and other experts to offer their services to improve the health and livelihoods of inmates. Superintendent David Kwame Afatsawu, Northern Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Prisons Service, acknowledged the immense challenges facing prisons across the country. He said the government alone could not meet all their needs and called for stronger public-private partnerships to enhance healthcare, feeding, and logistics in prisons.
He commended the Association for the gesture and appealed to other benevolent organizations and individuals to help transform inmates into productive citizens. Nelson Mandela International Day is observed annually on July 18 in honour of Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa. It was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, with the first observance held on July 18, 2010.
The Association is a non-profit organization established by alumni of the Mandela Washington Fellowship in Ghana and provides a platform for members to connect, collaborate, and contribute to national development.
