DIRECTOR GENERAL OF PRISONS LAUNCHES “THINK PRISONS 360°” INITIATIVE IN WA

The Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie (Esq.), on November 6, 2025, paid a working visit to the Wa Central Prison, where she officially launched the flagship “Think Prisons 360°” initiative.

The initiative focuses on improving the welfare of officers and inmates, promoting agricultural mechanization, advancing industrialization and prison business ventures, creating wealth, and fostering strategic partnerships and interventions aimed at transforming the Ghana Prisons Service.

As tradition demands, the Director-General first paid a courtesy call on the Overlord of the Waala Traditional Area, Wa Naa Fuseini Pelpuo VIII, and later visited the office of the Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Charles Lwanga Puozing (Esq.).

She subsequently held a durbar with officers of the Wa Central Prison, during which the “Think Prisons 360°” initiative was officially launched. The event was also attended by representatives of the Retired Prison Officers Association of Ghana (REPOAG), the Prisons Officers’ Wives Association (PROWA), and Prison Support Assistants.

The Regional Commander, DDP Alhaji Ousmane Tasembedo (Esq.), expressed profound appreciation to the Director-General for her visit and for choosing Wa Central Prison as the venue for the launch of this landmark initiative.

Delivering her keynote address, Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie touched on a wide range of issues, including the need for the Service to become self-reliant through large-scale agricultural expansion, the provision of modern accommodation for officers, and the upgrading of all prison infirmaries into fully equipped clinics. She also emphasized the importance of building stronger partnerships in the areas of education and sanitation. The Director-General urged officers to adopt healthy lifestyles and avoid the use of alcohol and illicit substances.

She further announced that the month of November has been designated as “Prisons Service Month,” to be celebrated annually across all prison establishments nationwide.

The Special Guest of Honour, who is the Upper West Regional Minister, Hon. Charles Lwanga Puozing (Esq.), commended the Ghana Prisons Service for the “Think Prisons 360°” initiative and the Prison Improvement and Sustainability Pesewa Fund (PISPES). In a show of support, he made a personal donation of Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS 5,000) towards the fund.

As part of her visit, the Director-General also toured the Baayiri Prison Farm to obtain first-hand information on the facility’s agricultural activities and food production operations.