IMPROVE PRISON STRUCTURES AND CONDITIONS- FOUNDER, SOMPAHEMAA FOUNDATION.

The founder of Sompahemaa Foundation, Mrs. Irene Mensah-Bonsu (Wife of Majority Leader, Kyei Mensa-Bonsu), has called for expansion and improvement of housing structures for prison inmates as well as reorientation and training of prison officers to ensure effective reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners.

Mrs. Mensah-Bonsu made the call last Sunday, during the launch of the Prisons Reforms Project by the winner of TV3’s Ghana’s Most Beautiful contest, 2021, Miss Benedicta Sarfoa Asamoah at the Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem park at Manhyia in Kumasi in the Ashanti region.

Mrs. Menah-Bosu decried overcrowding in the country’s prisons which, she says, results in outbreak of communicable diseases, criminal contamination and exerts pressure on existing prisons facilities.

‘Overpopulation also results in poor nutrition. Lack of adequate healthy meals lead to a compromised immune system leaving inmates exposed to diseases and ailments,’ she said.

The Director-General of Prisons, Mr. Isaac Kofi Egyir, lauded the beauty queen, Benedicta Sarfoa Asamoah, for the initiative, describing it as a rare choice many a pageant would have opted for. He pledged the Prisons Administration’s unflinching support for the project.

The special Guest of Honour for the occasion, Her Majesty, Lady Julia, wife of the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, commended Sarfoa for making Asanteman proud by winning the coveted crown. She added that the royal stool and the entire Asanteman will stand solidly behind her to make her dream become a reality.

The winner of the TV3’s beauty pageant, Ghana’s Most Beautiful (GMB) 2021, Miss Benedicta Sarfoah Asamoah expressed gratitude for the massive support received from the Ghana Prisons Service, the church of Pentecost, the Manhyia Palace, the Sompahemaa Foundation and the management of TV3.

According to Miss Sarfoa Asamoah, her project seeks to assist in the reformation of prisoners by improving on the existing prison facilities and infrastructure, and also to ensure that inmates are offered the necessary training skills whilst in custody. This, she said, will enable inmates fend for themselves upon their release and also reduce recidivism.

The General Manager of TV3, Mr. Francis Doku pledged the support of management of TV3 for Sarfoa’s project and appealed to religious organisations, civil society groups, non-governmental organisations and all those who are in the position to help her to do so to ensure that her dream of making prisons reforms a reality would come to pass.
Miss Benedicta Sarfoa Asamoah emerged winner of TV3’s beauty pageant contest GMB in October 2021 and in consonance with the traditions of the reality show for winners to embark on a project of their own choice to impact society, chose prisons reforms.