INITIATE POLICIES TO DEVELOP PRISON SERVICE PERSONNEL (PAGE 42, SEPT 8, 2010)

THE outgoing Ashanti Regional Prisons Commander, Deputy Director of Prisons, Mr Joseph Kwaw-Yankson, has called on the government to initiate policies and programmes that would enhance manpower and human resource development of personnel in the service.
He said much must be done not only in the administrative structure and logistical infrastructure, but also key areas such as residential accommodation for officers and general conditions of service.
Mr Ekow-Yankson made the call at a solemn pull-out ceremony and a farewell party held in his honour at the prisons canteen in Kumasi.
He said the support for 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.”
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 pull–out ceremony at the forecourt of the prisons.
In his address, Mr Ekow-Yankson said although he was leaving the Ghana Prisons Service better than he came to meet it 26 years ago, much need to be done to further 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 stated.
Touching on public support, Mr Ekow-Yankson 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.
He charged the junior officers to regularly build their capacity to enhance their promotion to the senior ranks and also encouraged them to invest in their children’s education.