The outgoing Ashanti Regional Prisons Commander, Deputy Director of Prisons (DPP) Joseph Kwaw-Yankson, has made a passionate appeal to the government to initiate policies and programmes that would enhance human resource development in the service.
He pointed out that much needed to be done, not only in the administrative structure and logistics, but also in key areas such as residential accommodation for officers and general conditions of service.
Explaining, he said support to the service would “ engender the necessary motivation and enthusiasm for increased productivity and prosecuting the cardinal objectives of the service in terms of safe custody, welfare, reformation and rehabilitation of inmates”.
DDP Ekow-Yankson made the remarks at a solemn pull-out ceremony and party held in his honour at the Prisons Canteen in Kumasi.
The Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Kofi Opoku Manu, and Service Commanders in the metropolis, as well as a cross-section of the public graced the occasion, making it a memorable one.
Earlier, the regional minister and the outgoing Prisons Commander had inspected a guard mounted in their honour as part of the pullout ceremony at the forecourt of the prisons.
In his address, DDP Ekow-Yankson said though he was leaving the Ghana Prisons Service better than how he met it 26 years ago, much is needed to be done to improve conditions.
“ A number of initiatives have been taken in the past, leading to a significant reformation of the administrative structure, improvement in the logistical infrastructure and manpower and human resource development of personnel”, he noted.
He said notwithstanding the improvement, “ much remains to be done through the assistance of government to bring about further improvement”.
Touching on public support, he said various churches, pastors, evangelists, non-governmental organisations and the general public had contributed in diverse ways to support the spiritual and material needs of the inmates.
“ In the course of my tenure of office, these groups variously donated a number of consumable and non-consumable items among which were six television sets, 70 three-in-one bedsteads, 100 mattresses, quantities of cement and quarry stones, among others”, he said.
He said there was also a donation of GH¢4,000 “ to ameliorate the plight of the inmates, as well as to support projects undertaken in the prison by the administration”.
He also commended authorities of the service for enhancing the security lighting system and reinforcing the armoury.
He charged the junior officers to regularly build their capacity to enhance their promotion and also encouraged them to invest in their children’s education.
That, he said, would enable their children develop their potential more meaningfully and acquire employable skills that would make it possible for them to support sustainable socio-economic development in future.
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