Bolgatanga, (UE), May 8, GNA - The Chairman of the Prisons Council, Air Marshal John Asamoah Bruce has announced that the Council would ensure that expansion of the country's Prisons and introduction of formal and informal education.

He explained that this would help make the reintegration of prisoners into society meaningful.

Air Marshal Asamoah, who inaugurating a nine-member Upper East Prisons Committee, chaired by the Regional Minister, Mr. Mark Woyongo in Bolgatanga, asked Prison Committees to support the council's vision in transforming prisons into reformative institutions. He asked the Committee to work with stakeholders to improve upon conditions in the prisons. Air Marshal Asamoah appealed to the Committee to bring to the notice of the Council any matter that would require redress since the Council had an open door policy.

"Your work is very important and requires vision, dedication, commitment and teamwork to ensure that you discharge your duties effectively. We therefore charge all of you to work as a team to effectively address the numerous challenges facing the Prisons in the Region", he said. Mr. Woyongo assured the Council that the Committee would work diligently to support the Prisons Council to achieve its vision. He commended the Council for its plans to expand the country's prisons and introduce formal and informal education to help improve the situation of prisoners.

Mr. Woyongo reiterated the call to bring more judges to the region to speed up the justice delivery system, especially the piled-up cases in the Bawku area saying the delay in the dispensation of the Bawku conflict was causing a of impunity in the area.

The Committee had its members drawn from the Department of Social Welfare, Regional Directorate of Health Services, Nurses Association, Catholic Education Unit, Attorney General's Department, Ghana Bar Association, Regional House of Chief and the Regional Prison Command. It is expected to advise the Prison Council on maters relating to administration of prisons in the region. 8 May 10