Prison transformation agenda in the offing — Mohammed-Mubarak

The Interior Ministry is to launch some initiatives to help transform the country’s prison system in line with best practices.

It would involve the roll-out of industrialisation and large-scale agriculture schemes such as those being practised in Singapore and Israel where prison labour was effectively utilised.

The Sector Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, who disclosed this, said under the initiative, private businesses would also be encouraged to partner the Prisons Service to establish industries within prison facilities, provide inmates with skills training and a structured environment that promotes discipline.

“Inmates who work in these industries will learn a skill, earn an income and maintain discipline because misbehaviour will mean losing the opportunity to work.

“Additionally, good behaviour and consistent work can lead to sentence reductions, allowing inmates to reintegrate into society with both experience and financial stability,” he said.

The minister mentioned other initiatives to include a Prison Agricultural Project, which would leverage the vast land available in the country’s 48 prison facilities for farming, livestock rearing and fisheries. 

Event

Mr Mohammed-Mubarak was speaking at a meeting with some Christian religious groups in Accra yesterday.

In attendance were representatives from the Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Ghana Pentecostal and Charismatic Council, and the National Association of Christians and Charismatic Churches. Also present was the National Peace Council.

Discussions focused on promoting peace and social cohesion and addressing security concerns in the country.

Collaboration

The minister, however, said that the government could not do it all alone and, therefore, called for the collaboration of churches and the private sector to invest in such projects.

He assured potential partners that the government would provide land and a ready workforce for the mutual benefit of both investors and the prison service.

Mr Mohammed-Mubarak further solicited support to improve conditions in prisons, especially rehabilitation and reintegration programmes for inmates.

He highlighted the dire conditions in the country’s prisons, saying congestion and inadequate resources posed serious challenges to the welfare of inmates.

“We need to remember that mistakes are made by everyone, which is why God is forgiving. When people commit offences and are sent to prison, it is for reformation and not punishment to the point of neglect,” the minister said.

“I want to thank the Church of Pentecost for the wonderful things they are doing to support the ministry through the provision of facilities to the Prison Service.

“Churches have resources that can be used to improve our prisons, and that is one of the core reasons why I have decided to interact with you,” he said. 

Social cohesion

The Director of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, Rev. Fr Michael Quaicoe, emphasised the need for unity and collaboration to address security concerns and also promote social cohesion.

He also urged the citizenry not to become passive observers of the country’s security situation.

“My prayer is that we do not become indifferent. Let us partner the Ministry of the Interior and other stakeholders to actively work towards peace and security.

Because if we don’t, and we lose the peace we enjoy today, someone will ask us tomorrow where we were when all of this was happening,” the director added.