The Ghana Prisons Service has inaugurated a clinic at the James Camp Prison to enhance access to health care for inmates, officers and the surrounding community.
Last Friday’s inauguration marked a milestone in ongoing efforts to transform the country’s correctional facilities into a more humane, efficient and rehabilitative system.
The clinic has an Outpatient Department (OPD), a pharmacy, a theatre for minor surgical procedures, separate wards for males and females, and a VIP ward.
Commitment, appeal
Inaugurating the facility on behalf of the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, the Chief Director at the Ministry, Solomon Tetteh Mensah, said the facility was a reflection of the government’s commitment to treating every life with dignity, whether free or in custody.
He explained that the project aligned with the government’s “Think Prisons 360 Degrees” reform initiative, which seeks to rebrand the Prisons Service, improve staff and inmate welfare, and modernise correctional facilities.
He also said the healthcare delivery in the country’s prisons had long faced challenges, forcing inmates and officers to rely on limited infirmaries and external referrals.
“This facility will bring health care closer, making it easier to diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses among inmates and officers. It will also serve the surrounding community,” Mr Mensah said.
Support
The Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture and Member of Parliament (MP) for Ayawaso West Wuogon, John Setor Dumelo, pledged his personal support to equip the new facility.
“With my little support, I will help equip this clinic so that it becomes well-known in the community,” he said.
Drawing inspiration from a recent visit to Kenyan prisons, the Deputy Minister, who is also an ardent farmer, urged the Ghana Prisons Service to expand its farming projects nationwide.
Prisons Service
The Director-General of Prisons, Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, said six prison infirmaries across the country had been upgraded, with plans advanced for an ultra-modern national prison hospital.
She commended the government, development partners, corporate institutions, and other stakeholders for their contributions towards the project.
