Gov’t committed to improving Prisons Service - Minister

The Minister of Interior, Mr Mark Woyongo has stated that government is committed to improving the Ghana Prison’s Service that has suffered neglect for far too long.

The Minister made the statement when he presented a 32-seater bus worth GH¢ 100,000.00 to the Regional Command of the Service in Navrongo in the Upper East Region to facilitate the activities of the two prisons in Navrongo and Bawku, both in the Region.

Presenting the Bus at the Navrongo Prison on Thursday, the Minister stated that the donation was in response his promise to provide the facility with a means of transport.

The Minister who is also the Member of Parliament for Navrongo Central Constituency, explained that during his visit to the Navrongo Prison last year, the lack of means of transport to convey the Prisoners to the Court in Bolgatanga for trial and also to transport them to health facilities anytime they fell sick, was identified as one of the key challenges facing the facility.

“The Ghana Prison Service has been neglected for far too long. This government is committed to improving upon the condition of both inmates and workers of the Prison Service”, he stressed.

He said backed by the Government’s commitment to improve the condition of the Service, GH¢ 500 million had been released by the Government for the expansion of the Nsawam Prison, and that plans were ahead to build another ultra-modern prison in Kumasi.

Mr Woyongo hinted that the Prison Service together with other security agencies would be retooled with state-of-the-art equipment from next year, adding that all the Commanders of the service would be provided with means of transport to facilitate their work, as well as pay all food contractors servicing the Service.

“With the passage of the bill which is before Parliament, the Immigration Service in the border towns will be allowed to use weapons to maintain order and security. Other security agencies will also benefit from such packages”, he disclosed.

Whilst commending the staff of the Service for working hard in the midst of challenges, he entreated them to be devoted to their duties and to collaborate and share ideas with their sister security agencies to help combat crime.

In response the Regional Prison Commander, Mr Henry Daasah, thanked the Interior Minister for the support and pledged that the Service would remain committed to its duties.