The Prisons Medicine and Equipment Bank has been launched at the Prempeh Assembly Hall in Kumasi to help improve healthcare delivery within correctional facilities throughout the country.
The Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie said at the launch that the welfare of inmates was a shared responsibility of all citizens who believed in human dignity and that prison officers and the government alone should not shoulder the burden.
She noted that the health and well-being of inmates remain a critical responsibility of society, yet many prisoners face health challenges that require timely medical attention.
The Director-General emphasised that investing in inmate healthcare not only safeguards lives, but also promotes successful rehabilitation and reintegration into society upon their release.
Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie commended stakeholders and partners who contributed to the establishment of the Medicine and Equipment Bank, describing the initiative as a significant step towards addressing healthcare gaps within the country’s prisons.
She urged individuals, corporate organisations, religious bodies, and philanthropists to support the programme to ensure that inmates receive the medical care they need.
According to her, the Prisons Medicine and Equipment Bank is expected to serve as a centralised platform for mobilising and distributing medical supplies to prison facilities nationwide, ultimately enhancing healthcare services and improving the living conditions of inmates across the country.
The Director-General highlighted the Service’s “360 Programme,” a flagship initiative that contributes to national development by sensitising the public on crime prevention and focusing on the holistic welfare of inmates. “The purpose” she said “is holistic welfare and to help individuals contribute to national development”.
She noted that the majority of people in prison would one day return to society, and society must prioritise their needs. “Majority of people in prison will come home one day and no one knows who will become your neighbour one day.
She said, Entrepreneurial activities including agricultural mechanisation, industrialisation, basic skills training, and entrepreneurial activities, are geared toward preparing inmates for life after release.
She disclosed that the Ghana Prisons Service had registered its businesses producing furniture and sanitary pads for schools as part of its industrialisation drive.
Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie said strategic plans are in place to ensure prison officers and inmates are safe and that officers are accommodated in sanitised and conducive environments.
She stressed the need for adequate equipment and medicines for inmates, noting that a number of inmates have already been enrolled onto the National Health Insurance Scheme. She outlined challenges in health delivery, including shortages of medicine supply, a growing inmate population, and communicable diseases.
She stated that the cost of treating one inmate at any specialist health facility goes beyond drugs. One prisoner is to be cared for by six officers in a day, which is not the case. She called for sustainable and accountable contributions, with all utilisation and expenses properly documented.
Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie encouraged every Ghanaian to contribute at least GH¢1 monthly, to be managed by competent and people of integrity, to help the Ghana Prisons Service make society safer.
She appealed to corporate bodies, development partners, and pharmaceutical industries and suppliers to contribute to the common cause and help institutionalise the programme for sustainability.
The Ashanti Regional Prisons Commander, Deputy Director of Prisons (DDP) James B. Mwinyelle, who also serves as Officer in Charge of Kumasi Central Prison, appealed to individuals and corporate organisations to come to the Service’s aid.
He urged the public to uphold human dignity and public health by contributing towards quality healthcare and transformation of the lives of inmates.
Nana Boateng Bediako Debrah II, Sekyere Kwamang Paramount Chief and representative of Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, who presided over the occasion, noted that the project was a practical solution to quality basic healthcare for inmates.
He commended the command for its commitment and foresight in demonstrating concern for human dignity and healthcare.
Monsignor Dr. Luis Kofi Tuffuor who represented Bishop Justice Gabriel Yaw Anokye, the Metropolitan Archbishop of Kumasi, said the initiative was aimed at restoring dignity and preventing epidemics, and urged international partners and corporate bodies to support the vital programme for national development.
Mr. Richard Ofori Agyemang Boadi, the Metropolitan Chief Executive for Kumasi, on behalf of Dr. Frank Amoakohene, Ashanti Regional Minister, commended all stakeholders for their contributions to help improve the Prisons Service and create a more conducive environment for inmates to meet their healthcare needs.
He said the region would continue to offer support so that, together, the service could be improved. He renewed the region’s commitment and donated GH¢30,000 to support the initiative.
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