450 pass out from Prisons Intake 31

450 graduates from the Ghana Prisons Service Cadet Course Intake 31, passed out last Thursday after completing five months of training at the Prison Officers Training School (POT) in Accra.

The 450 graduates were made up of 176 females. 

It included both direct entrants and serving men and women who upgraded themselves with higher administrative skills to continue their career in

The officer cadet training was aimed at providing the requisite intellectual, physical and regimental preparation and mental resilience to officer cadets to enable them to take up leadership positions and exercise effective and efficient command in the Ghana Prisons Service.

Ceremony

As part of the graduation ceremony held last Thursday, the graduates mounted a parade which was reviewed by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The officers seized the opportunity to show off and execute their very well-rehearsed marching skills with precision and accuracy at the brief but colourful ceremony. 

As part of the event, three officers were presented with awards for distinguishing themselves.

They are Senior Under Officer Kwaku Baffour Baah Akyamfuor, who received the Sword of Honour award, Junior Under Officer Vida Dampo, the Commandant award and Junior Officer Charles Leander Amuna picked up the Academic Cane award.

Treatment of prisoners

President Akufo-Addo entreated them to carry forward the ideals of the Prisons Service that they received during the training and exude discipline and professionalism at all times.

He urged prison officers to treat inmates with the respect and dignity they deserved and also ensure their welfare.

“As prison officers and security personnel of the state, you will be called upon to serve in prison establishments all over the country. You must show utmost respect for the laws of the land and for the rights of prisoners committed to prison custody under your care,’’ the President added.

Also, in line with the mandate to ensure their welfare, rehabilitation and reformation, the President said the government and prison authorities had put in place pragmatic interventions in health care, food security, education and skills training, among others, to improve the conditions of the inmates progressively.

Paradigm shift

The time, President Akufo-Addo said, had come for a paradigm shift that would lead to the building of strong independent state institutions which did not only excel in delivering their mandates, but were ready to deliver their capacity to work with income generated internally. 

The President thus commended the Prison Service for its effort to increase its agricultural activities to boost food security for the well-being of inmates and also generate revenue for the running of the administration.

He, however, encouraged the Prison Service to embark on mechanisation and also involve the participation of established and reliable private partners in this direction. 

The President also pledged that the government will continue to improve the working conditions of the Prisons Service to enable it to deliver its functions effectively.

“Over the years, the government has made significant effort to improve on the manpower needs of the service which has resulted in the enlistment of more officers from various professional backgrounds,” he added