DIRECTOR GENERAL ENGAGES FORMER MEMBERS OF PRISONS DIRECTORATE ON STRATEGIC REFORMS.

The Director General of Prisons, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie(ESQ) today, thursdag July 17, 2025 held the maiden edition of the meetings with former Director-Generals, Deputy Director-Generals, Directors and current Directors of the Ghana Prisons Service at the Prisons headquarters in Accra.

Mrs. Baffoe- Bonnie in her opening remarks, welcomed the former members and acknowledged their various supports in her journey to becoming the current Director General of Prisons.
The purpose of the gathering was to brief former high ranking officers about the new strategic direction of the service which include the “Think Prisons 360 degrees initiative that will soon be launched in Kumasi, Mechanization and Expansion of Agricultural activities, Rebranding, Staff and Inmates Welfare, Industralization, Wealth Creation and Advocacy.

Detailing efforts to improve inmates welfare and expand agriculture activities, DGP mentioned some internal initiatives such as the DG’s Kitchen Project which is aimed at enhancing the diet of inmates, through efforts of prison facilities in small scale poultry, fish and vegetable farming to support the kitchens.
She highlighted the introduction of Creative Arts as a tool for rehabilitation which would unearth various talents of inmates.

The Drug Bank Project according to the Director General would also be undertaken through a collaborative assistance from pharmaceutical companies who would be engaged with a convincing proposal that would frequently support the prison clinics and infirmaries with assorted medications.
The Land Bank Project which has commenced on a positive note, is a strategic plan to secure very large acres of land to expand agricultural activities, construct Camp prisons and additional training schools with officers accommodation.
A 1000 acres of land has been secured in Anum for the contruction of training school with accommodation purposefully for Agric training and part for agriculture activities.
Over a 1000 acres has also been secured in the Northern region with necessary documentations yet to commence.

On Education, Director General disclosed that, the new administration would soon begin the necessary procedures to take back all Prison schools and collaborate with the Ghana Education Service to effectively manage them and establish nursery schools to cater for the educational needs of officers wards.

In appreciating recents supports to the Service through some courtesy calls and proposals, DGP. Baffoe Bonnie(ESQ) mentioned the Ministry of Agric for the donation of fertilizers, 2 mini tractors, birds and cages for the Akoko nkiti kiti initiative.
A scholarship package from the Metropolitan University has been allocated to 60 individuals including officers, their dependants and inmates.
The Director General added that, slots for 6000 persons has been acquired through the Coding programme for training in computer related courses.

Hon. Richard Kuuire(MP) a former Director General and Member of Parliament for Nandom in his address louded the idea of Mrs. Baffoe- Bonnie in bringing retired members of the Directorate together to solicit their inputs for the strategic directions and share rich experiences to support the new administration.
Hon. B.T Baba a former Director of Prisons and some members promised to use their influencial positions to lobby for Government support for the Prisons Service.

All former Director Generals of the Prisons Service expressed their admiration for the dedication of the current administration and assured the Director General of their readiness to support the Service in diverse ways for the success of the great initiatives mentioned.

In her closing remarks, Mrs. Patience Baffoe- Bonnie(ESQ) expressed her heartfelt gratitude to members for gracing the occasion and entreated them to serve as ambassadors for the rebranding agenda of the Ghana Prisons Service.

By: Supt. Samuel Kofi Opoku
Prisons headquarters.