Rosa Foundation presents food items, supports medical expenses at Akuse Prison

The Founder of the Rosa Foundation, Joyce Bawah Mogtari, has called for a shift in the focus of the Ghanaian prison system from punishment to rehabilitation, and reform as a crucial step towards meaningful prison policy. 

She underscored the importance of exploring alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offences, such as community service, probation and electronic monitoring.

She said those measures could help reduce overcrowding in prisons and provide more effective and humane solutions for some offenders. 

Donation

A representative of the Foundation, Della Russel Ocloo, speaking on behalf of Mrs Mogtari made the call during a recent visit to the Akuse Prisons, where the foundation presented food items worth GH¢45,000 to the inmates.

The donation was made to mark the celebration of the founder’s birthday, which fell on January 1. Mrs Mogtari also donated an undisclosed amount to cover the medical expenses of a female inmate.

She emphasised the organisation's commitment to supporting those who are incarcerated, stating that "rehabilitation and reintegration are crucial aspects of a just society".

The food items, she said, were a significant gesture to contribute to the overall well-being of the inmates, recognising the importance of nutritious food for both physical and mental health.

The foundation encouraged the inmates to utilise their time in prison for personal growth, urging them to participate in educational programmes and develop plans for a successful re-entry into society.

"We believe that everyone deserves a second chance, and we are committed to helping you turn this adversity into an opportunity for success," Mrs Mogtari said.

The foundation also expressed gratitude to the prison staff for their dedication and service in providing care and support to the inmates. 

Interaction

During an interaction with the inmates, they expressed their appreciation for the Rosa Foundation's generous contributions to their well-being.

The female inmates also appealed for the provision of fabrics and stiffening materials to enable them to produce and sell handheld fans to visitors. 

According to them, the government's daily feeding grant of GH¢1.80 per inmate was insufficient to cover their basic needs and medical expenses, and the income generated from some sales of handy was what supplement to provide for their basic needs.

They said since incarceration, some of them had not had any relatives visiting them and appealed for more support.

An Assistant Director of Prisons at Akuse Prisons, Joyce Owusu-Annor, commended the foundation for the gesture and stated that officials were making use of the limited resources available to provide for those under their custody.

Ms Owusu-Annor called on well-meaning Ghanaians and organisations to support the service as part of their contributions to reform those in incarceration.