Let’s integrate ex-convicts into society - Ashong-Mettle
The Vice-President of the Ashanti Regional branch of Prison Ladies Association (PRILAS), Superintendent of Prisons Mrs Yayra Ashong-Mettle, has called for proactive measures to help reform, accept and integrate ex-convicts into society.
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She said that was necessary to enable them to start a new life and reform from the bad habits that took them to jail. She also pointed out that the return of ex-convicts to jail was as a result of the refusal of families to accept them into their homes.
Mrs Ashong-Mettle, who is also the second in command at the Kumasi Female Prison, made the call in an interview with the Daily Graphic, after leading the Ashanti PRILAS to donate assorted items to inmates of the Obuasi Prison.
Visit to the prisons
The visit to the prison was part of the Ashanti PRILAS’ yearly visit to one prison in the region to donate items and socialise with its inmates.
The members donated Gh¢1,500 worth of toiletries, fruits, bread and assorted toothpastes to the inmates.
The visit to the Obuasi Prisons brings to six the number visited by the association in the past few years, in addition to the Kumasi Central and Female, Amanfrom, Ahinsan, Obuasi, and the Manhyia prisons, for the same purpose.
Anniversary
Mrs Ashong-Mettle announced that a series of programmes had been put in place to mark the 10th anniversary of the formation of National PRILAS, and to take stock of the performance of the group that was formed to seek the welfare of the members and that of prison inmates.
The PRILAS vice-president pledged the unflinching support of the Ashanti PRILAS to all prison inmates in the region, since they believed in caring for them.
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An Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) and Second-in-command at the Obuasi Prison, Mr Timothy Amenano, who received the items, lauded the association for the donation, and indicated that it had come to ease their burden in diverse ways.
He mentioned congestion as the major challenge that was confronting the prison and called for support to ease the current situation.
ASP Amenano also said the current GH¢1.8 given as ration for each inmate per day was woefully inadequate and appealed to the government to, as a matter of urgency, increase the rate so that the inmates would be well catered for.