BONO, BONO EAST AND AHAFO REGIONAL COMMAND
The Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regional Command comprises 5/five prison establishments, namely Sunyani Central & Sunyani Female Prisons in the Bono region, Kenyasi & Duayaw-Nkwanta Camp Prisons in the Ahafo region and Yeji Camp Prison in the Bono East region. These establishments with their own staff and officers-in-charge are under the command of the Regional Commander who controls the state of affairs of the three regions.
SUNYANI CENTRAL PRISON
Brief History of Station: The Sunyani Central Prison was established in 1962 with the capacity for 450 inmates. The prison which is located close to the Bono Regional Coordinating Council is the main prison hub for the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions and some parts of Western North region.
Authorized capacity: The prison which was established to hold 450 inmates currently holds about 700 inmates.
Sunyani Central Prison is the administrative headquarters for all prisons in the Bono, Bono East and Ahafo regions with Deputy Director of Prisons, Thompson Otsyokpo as the Regional Commander. The central prison supplies the camp prisons with inmates for their agricultural activities.
Major Rehabilitation Programmes:
- Tailoring
- Kente weaving
- Formal & Non-formal education
- Carpentry
- Shoe-making
Areas of collaboration: Current stakeholders and partners for support include but not limited to all security agencies (Army, Police Service, Fire Service, Immigration Service, Ambulance Service, National Intelligence Bureau and National Security), Ministry of Agriculture, the Regional Coordinating Council, Glico Insurance Limited, Enterprise Life Insurance Limited, StarLife Assurance Limited, Eusbett Hotel, Religious Bodies, Ghana Health Service, National Health Insurance Authority, CSOs such as Mihoso International, Forestry Commission, Ericose Ventures, Old Mutual Insurance Limited, etc.
SUNYANI FEMALE PRISON
Established in 1994, it is the only female prison in the three regions.
Major Rehabilitation Programmes:
- Tailoring
- Hairdressing salon
- Bakery
DUAYAW NKWANTA CAMP PRISON
BRIEF HISTORY OF STATION
Duayaw Nkwanta Settlement Camp Prison was established in October, 1992, when the Divestiture Implementation Committee Officially handed the Cocoa Board Coffee Plantation herein referred to as Bredi farm land and the Koforidua Palm Plantation owned by the Ghana food production to the Service.
Purpose: To engage in agricultural activities to support inmates ration and also help to decongest the Sunyani Central Prison.
AUTHORIZED CAPACITY
75/Seventy-Five inmates but currently holds a lock-up of 122 inmates.
MAJOR REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES
- Vocational Training (this includes Masonry, Tailoring, Agriculture and Carpentry)
- Religious and Moral Guidance.
AREAS OF COLLABORATION
- MOFA: To engage in poultry farming ‘nkoko nketinketi’,
- Tano-North Municipal Assembly and Traditional Council: Engage in clean-up exercises and offer manpower to partake in communal labour.
YEJI CAMP PRISON
BRIEF HISTORY OF STATION
The Yeji Camp Prison structure was once an abandoned old hospital that was later converted into a prison. The prison was officially inaugurated on 20th March, 2004, with 19 junior officers and 2 senior officers to manage its administrative and operational activities. The first batch of prisoners arrived in the camp in December 2004, comprising 50 short-sentenced prisoners transferred permanently from Sunyani Central Prison. The total acreage on which the camp prison is situated is currently 48 acres, excluding the two farming sites at Kadue and Kajai.
Yeji Camp Prison is located on the Kwayease land, a suburb of Yeji, which shares a boundary with Kojo-Boffour (also a suburb of Yeji) in the Pru East Municipal District of the Bono East Region.
AUTHORIZED CAPACITY
The prison has a capacity of two hundred and fifty (250) inmates. Currently, the prison has eighty-five (85) inmates who are housed in two (2) block dormitory type of six (6) cells.
MAJOR REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES
- Agric: Inmates are trained in modern farming techniques to enhance their agricultural knowledge and skills.
- Tailoring: The prison’s tailoring shop provides inmates with employable skills in garment production. However, there are inadequate industrial machines for their training.
AREAS OF COLLABORATION
- Drilling of a mechanized borehole
As part of its corporate social responsibility, StarLife Assurance Company Limited in Sunyani drilled and mechanized a borehole for the prison. The installation was completed on 14th November, 2016.
- Three- seater water closet toilet facility
The three-seater toilet facility for prison officers has been completed and is ready for use. The project was fully funded by the then Member of Parliament for the area, Honorable Dr. Kwabena Donkor, who provided all the necessary materials.
- Construction of Yeji Camp Prison Mosque
Al-Kima organization with their Headquarters at Kumasi has constructed a mosque for inmates and officers to practice their faith. The building is expected to be inaugurated by late May, 2025.
KENYASI CAMP PRISON
BRIEF HISTORY OF STATION
The Kenyasi Settlement Camp Prison was established in October, 1991 through the Government Divestiture Implementation Programme and remains the only prison establishment in the Asutifi North District of the Ahafo Region. The camp concentrates on the maintenance of cocoa and oil palm plantation as well as the production of food crops especially maize and vegetables.
The Prison Camp actually came into existence on 28th February, 1992 with Twenty-four/24 Prisoners transferred from Sunyani Central Prison. The staff strength then stood at Six/6 recruits and a superior officer of the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Prison.
Initially, the uncompleted bungalow of the COCOBOD Plantations Limited, the original owners of the prison farms served as cells for the inmates. From 27th February, 1993 to 3rd August, 1993 the Prisons Service built a new Camp uphill, a short distance from the old one. The administrative work of the Settlement Camp at the initial stage was carried out under a mango tree which stood very close to the uncompleted bungalow. The bungalow had been renovated and converted into officers’ quarters.
MAJOR REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES
- Agriculture
- Tailoring
