IMPROVING ACCESS TO PSYCHO-SOCIAL SUPPORT AND ARTS THERAPY IN PRISONS PROJECT LAUNCHED.

The Ghana Prisons Service in collaboration with the Crime Check Foundation yesterday, August 22, 2024 launched the “Improving Access to Psycho-social support and Arts therapy in the Prisons” project at the Ghana International Press center in Accra.

The project which is funded by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is to sustainably improve access to psycho-social supports, psycho therapy and arts therapy for inmates of seven (7) selected prison establishment across the country.

The Deputy Director-General of Prisons in charge of Finance and Administration DDGP. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie (Esq) noted in a speech read on behalf of the Director General of Prisons that, the project marks a significant step in the efforts of the service to reintegrate inmates.

“Psycho-social supports helps in managing stress, promoting self awareness, coping skills, empowerment and personal growth”.

The responsibility of the Prison Service goes beyond ensuring safe custody to providing psycho-social support for inmates.

DDGP. Baffoe- Bonnie explained further that, prisoners experience lose of identity and stigmatization while serving their sentences therefore effective psycho-social supports and arts therapy can improve hope, rebuild self esteem, promote emotional expression and promote positive change among inmates facing stress and depression.

Inmates from the 7 selected prison establishment would be screened to identify the various psycho-social and arts therapy needs of inmates with supports from professional psychologists, psychiatrists and creatives.

The project will in the near future cater for inmates across the 46 prison establishments across the country.

The ceremony was attended by the Director of Prisons in charge of Health, DOP. Gloria Essandoh(Esq), Mrs. Helena Adobea Ofori from UNODC, Executive Director of Crime Check foundation, Mr. Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng and Prof.Oppong Asante from the Psychology Department of University of Ghana- Legon.

The rest were senior Prison officers and representatives from the Judicial Service, Ministry of Health, National Commission on Civic Education ( NCCE) and the Commission on Human Right and Administration Justice (CHRAJ).