Prisons urged to prepare for CAN2008

Ankaful (C/R), Dec. 29, GNA- Mr. Oppong Kofi Tweneboa-Kodua, Central Regional commander of the Ghana Prison services, on Friday called on officers of the service to brace-up to meet the challenges of the CAN 2008 and the Presidential and Parliamentary elections next year. He said considering the importance of the two events, they would be expected to discharge their duties diligently and professionally to ensure their success.

Mr. Tweneboa-Kodua said this at a send-off and end of year get-together for the staff of Ankaful prison complex at Ankaful. At the function, eight retirees of the service who had served between 30 and 40 years received gifts ranging from roofing sheets and ice chests and they were presented with citation. Their spouses were also given token gifts.

He cautioned that the service would not entertain tendencies that would not advance the cause of the Service and urged them to work hard, be loyal, discipline and have a deep sense of responsibility towards their duties. He said the year had been a challenging one due to over crowding and financial constraints because of the shortfall of the 2007 budgetary allocation and this, he stressed, affected the operation of the administration. In some cases officers had to use their own money to send inmates to hospital for treatment. Mr. Tweneboa-Kodua said even though the Service faced a lot of challenges, the overall performance for the year was satisfactory and that officer's vigilance was also high and their commitment and professionalism had been commendable in terms of safe custody and disciplines.

The Regional Commander said there were three escapes in the Main and Annex prisons but due to the vigilance of the officers they were all recaptured and commended them for their hard work, dedication, sacrifice and invaluable contributions to the Service.

Mr. Tweneboa-Kodua commended the retirees for their dedication and loyalty to the state in general and the Service in particular, adding, "you are now going to join the civil life we would advise you to humble yourself and give rule of law a chance.

Mr Alfred Ewusi, President of Retired Prison Officers, who presided urged the officers to work very hard in the coming year to enable the Service to achieve the target it has set for itself.