Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Patrick Eden Timbillah,Ashanti Regional Police Commander, has expressed concern about the situation where
convicted criminals came out of prison more hardened than reformed.
He said 26 robbers killed in the Ashanti Region this year in gun battles with the police were all ex-convicts.
DCOP Timbillah, who was speaking to the Ghana News Agency on Thursday, blamed this
on the lack of adequate vocational training facilities in the prisons to aid their reformation. He said it was time serious attention was paid to ways to reform and assist prisoners to acquire trades to enable them to earn some income and lead decent lives.
The Regional Commander appealed for support from individuals, churches and organizations to partner the Government to provide well equipped workshops to train the prisoners.
He criticised the congestion at the prisons which made it difficult for inmates to even find
space on the bare floor to sleep, let alone talk about logistics for their remoulding.
DCOP Timbillah asked for the strengthening of the extended family system noting that, this could go a long way to turn people away from crime.
He reiterated the resolve of the police to continue to wage war against crime and called for
public support and co-operation.