Current prison system is merely warehousing offenders - Chairman
Wa, April 15, GNA - Air Marshall John Asamoah Bruce (Rtd), the Chairman of the Prisons Service Council, has said the prison system was only warehousing offenders as it is unable to perform its core functions of reforming and rehabilitating inmates.
"We need to move from this, but it requires a complete societal behavioural change by emphasizing on reformation and rehabilitation such as education and work skills as the real and proper end of justice and not retribution", he said.
Air Marshall Bruce said this when he inaugurated an eight- member Upper West Regional Prisons Committee in Wa on Wednesday.
The committee chaired by the Upper West Regional Minister, Mr. Mahmud Khalid, is tasked to advice the Prisons Service Council on any matter relating to the administration of prisons and of the Prisons Service in the region.
Air Marshall Bruce said the prisons were unable to carry out their mandate as the institution of reformation because of many challenging conditions that made it impossible for prisoners to become better citizens.
He said most prisoners were released into society unprepared to participate productively and as a result, they slip into recidivism.
"Prisons conditions are still deplorable, overcrowding and inadequate access to physical and mental healthcare are major challenges that need to be addressed," Air-Marshall Bruce said.
Air Marshall Bruce appealed to the Regional Committee to unveil the challenges faced by the prisons in the region and that the Regional Committee should be a key step towards achieving effective prisoner re-entry into society.
He urged the Committee to collaborate with members of the Ghana Prisons Service, all other stakeholders and relevant institutions in the region to carry out its functions effectively.
"Our objective is to help make proper reintegration of prisoners back into the society seamless", Air Marshall Bruce said.
"Let us work together to add value to prison life and support the Prisons Service in its efforts to make better persons out of our brothers and sisters who unfortunately find their way into the prisons", he said.
Air Marshall Bruce said government was working hard to complete construction works on the Maximum Security Prison at Ankaful with a capacity of 2,000 inmates to help reduce congestion.
Mr. Kale Cezar, Deputy Upper West Regional Minister, said while the population of criminals continues to increase facilities had not been expanded in the region to match with the crime wave.
He suggested the establishment of vocational facilities in the region for the training of inmates to take care of their reformative needs.
Mr. Cezar called on members of the Committee to work hard to change the negative perception of the reformed prisoner when they were release from custody and make sure that they integrate into society.
GNA