408 Recruits pass out of Prisons Officers Training School
The Ghana Prison Service (GPS) has graduated 408 recruits after successfully completing an intensive six-month training programme under Recruit Course 125 at the Prisons Officers Training School (POTS).
The graduating officers, comprising 220 males and 188 females, have been promoted to the rank of Second Class Officers.
The training which forms part of the service’s 125th intake into its junior corps was held concurrently at POTS and the Ankaful Prison Officers Training School in Cape Coast.
Ankaful also saw 451 recruits—249 males and 202 females—go through similar rigorous training.
The course which commenced on November 22, last year featured recruits from diverse professional and vocational fields including agriculture, nursing, technical services, sports, and secretarial work.
The academic curriculum covered key areas such as Penal Statistics, Prison Duties, Interpersonal Skills, Penal Law, and First Aid, complemented by rigorous physical and regimental drills, including Taekwondo for self-defence.
During the passing out ceremony today (June 17), some recruits were recognised for their outstanding performance during the course.
Hlormenu Rebecca Mawusi was named the Overall Best Recruit, Larbi Richard was awarded Best in Academics while Blandy Bright Azaa Sumah took home the Commandant’s Award. Yamoah Frederick was also named as the Best in Drill.
Commendation
The Deputy Minister for the Interior, Ebenezer Okletey Terlabi, who served as the reviewing officer at the event, commended the graduating officers for their discipline and commitment.
He described their training journey as one of discipline, resilience and dedication, noting that the recruits had not only been trained to maintain security but also to act as agents of reformation, guiding inmates toward positive change.
He emphasised that the prison service was not solely about confinement but about corrections, skill development and reintegration.
Mr Terlabi stated that as the new officers assume their roles, they must understand the critical nature of their responsibility to national stability.
He reminded them that the government and the country expected them to serve with professionalism, integrity, and humanity.
He acknowledged the demanding nature of the training they had undergone and declared them no longer individuals but officers of a vital state institution mandated to support rehabilitation, reformation and national security.
“As you step into your role, remember that you are now part of an institution critical to national stability. The government and the people of Ghana count on your professionalism, integrity and humanity,” he said.
Appreciation
He expressed his appreciation to the instructors and command at the Prisons Officers Training School for their crucial role in shaping the recruits, despite ongoing developments at the facility.
He acknowledged their perseverance and urged them to continue laying a strong foundation for the transformation of Ghana’s correctional system. He praised the discipline and precision exhibited during the passing-out parade, which he said was a testament to the high standards upheld by the institution.
The deputy minister also extended gratitude to the families and loved ones of the graduating officers for their unwavering support and sacrifices, noting that their presence added a deep sense of pride and joy to the occasion.
Govt commitment
Mr Terlabi reaffirmed the government’s commitment to improving the operations of the service.
Firstly, he said the government was committed to constructing a state-of-the-art prison facility to provide dignified conditions for the incarcerated.
He highlighted efforts to complete the long-stalled remand prison project at Nsawam.
He added that the government remained focused on improving inmate welfare, citing the increment of the feeding rate from 60 pesewas in 2012 to GH1.80, with planned to raise it further to GH5 in response to current economic conditions.
