Prison officers must exhibit high levels of professionalism - Veep

Accra, Nov. 27 GNA - Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur has called on graduating prison officers to exhibit high levels of discipline, vigilance, professionalism and respect for the rule of law.

He said through these exemplary leadership qualities many prisoners could be turned away from their offending behaviour and become law-abiding citizens.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur made the statement at the Graduation Parade for Officer Cadet Course Intake 23 of the Ghana Prisons Service at the Prison Officers Training School in Accra.

The 89 graduating cadets are career serving officers of the Ghana Prisons Service, comprising 66 males and 23 females with various academic and professional backgrounds.

The graduating officers were taken through six months of intensive training to equip them with leadership, managerial, technical and professional competencies and other skills that underlie best practices in prison management.

Present at the parade were Mr Mark Woyongo, Minister of Interior; Madam Matilda Baffour-Awuah, Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service and Service Commanders from the other security agencies.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur, who was the reviewing officer for the parade, praised the graduating officers for their smart turn-out.

He said modern prison management has shifted from mere warehousing of prisoners to the scientific and systematic treatment of their offending behaviour so that they can return to the community to live productive and crime-free lives.

He said these prisons run on structured programmes and activities to help prisoners acquire the needed skills to enhance their socio-economic conditions after discharge.

He said in spite of the challenges confronting the service, the Prisons administration has placed premium on the education of inmates by establishing junior and senior high schools in some of the prisons to help inmates continue to learn.

Vice President Amissah-Arthur said the government is determined to support the Prisons Service to be transformed into an excellent correctional institution as envisaged in the Service's own 10-year Strategic Development Plan.

He urged officers and men of the Prisons Service as well as personnel of the other security agencies to remain united and resolute in dealing with the security threats confronting the sub-region.

'The peace, order and security that we are enjoying must be jealously guarded' he said.

Two of the graduating officers, who distinguished themselves on the course, were honoured at the parade.

The Sword of Honour went to the Best-All-Round Officer Cadet: Senior Under Officer Nesto Cyriano whilst the Academic Cane was given to the Best in Academic Performance: Junior Under Officer Leah Appiah-Kubi.

GNA