The Ghana Prisons Service has launched a forward-looking initiative that seeks to change the narrative of the country’s prisons from a place for punishment to a space of hope, healing, productivity and national relevance.

Dubbed "Think Prisons 360 Degrees" the initiative is aimed at being a guiding compass for the noble service in the coming years, seeks to make the Ghana Prisons Service a household name because the mission is not just about keeping people in safe custody, but also about bringing out the best out of them and in so doing, bringing out the best in prison officers.

The Director-General of Prisons, Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, launched the programme at the Kumasi Central Prison during her three-day working visit to the Ashanti Region. 

Working visit

The launch took place after a Health Walk through the principal streets of Kumasi organised by the Prisons Service.

It attracted several dignitaries, including the Ashanti Regional minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, the Director of Prisons in charge of Agric, DOP Ali Kwaku Ababio, the Greater Accra Regional Commander, DDP Edward Fiifi Acquah, as well as the Ashanti Regional Commander, DDP James B. Mwinyele.

Also present were other high-ranking security personnel and officers in charge and officers drawn from the seven prison establishments in the Ashanti Region, namely the Kumasi Central and Kumasi Female Prisons, Manhyia Local Prison, Obuasi Local Prison, Ahinsan Camp Prison, Amanfrom and Ejura Camp Prisons.

Rationale, pillars

Explaining the rationale behind the initiative, the director-general of Ghana Prisons,  stated: "Think Prisons 360 degrees" initiative is a paradigm shift; it is one that envisions the prisons not only as a place of incarceration but also a space of hope, healing, productivity and national relevance.

“It is a comprehensive transformation anchored on 12 strategic points,” she emphasised.

Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie(ESQ) stated that the core pillars of the Think Prisons 360 Degrees would include rebranding, wealth creation, advocacy, welfare, agricultural mechanisation, modernisation and Industrialisation.

She said that while it will have the broader anchors, it would also be designed to suit the specific needs of the regions.

Working tour

As part of her working tour, Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie visited the Obuasi Local Prison, Ahinsan Settlement Camp Prison and the Amanfrom Camp Prison.

The visit to the prison facilities gave her a firsthand knowledge about activities, including security, agriculture, ongoing projects, conditions of service of officers and the welfare of inmates.

She also visited the Ejura Settlement Camp Prison, the Manhyia Local Prison, the Kumasi Female Prison, and the Kumasi Central Prison.

At all the facilities she and her entourage toured, Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie, the first female to rise through the ranks of the Prisons Service to assume the highest office of the service,  was welcomed with standard para-military quarter guards made up of both female and male contingents.