May Day: I Salute All Prison Officers In Ghana

"The Prison is an extension of our society"-Anonymous

Gentlemen, ahoooo...Ahoya! Are you motivated ?..motivated...motivated... motivated ahua!!

The above morale boosting chantings ignites the dedication and faithfulness in every Prison officer in Ghana. We respond to such morale chants amidst hunger, thirst, ailment, joy and in happiness.

It's yet another May Day, and as usual our colleagues in Green and Black are mentioned and the rest of us classified as 'other security services';but we in the brown uniform never relent to make sure you have a sound sleep without thinking of any hoodlum coming after your life and property.

As the World celebrate workers today, I celebrate all prison officers; from our able and vision-filled Director General and his Directorates down to all recruit and Under Cadet officers for their passion and dedication to work.

We face a lot of challenges whiles keeping in safe custody, societal deviants. The inmate with a contagious disease is treated by our dedicated medics and where extra attention is needed, he or she is taken to a bigger hospital by a non medic officer either in a commercial vehicle or via foot. I salute officers who attend to hospitalized inmates 24/7

Ahuaa to our colleagues at Settlement Camp prison facilities and othe gallant officers, who escort inmates through the thickness of bushes to the farm and other essential areas without arms and bring them back safe and sound. Civilians and colleagues in other security services wonder how we escort 4 or more energetic inmates through town without a side arm and some of us tell them, it's no magic!

The prison officer, even on off duty or annual leave can be recalled to attend to pressing needs in the facility. As we mark this Day, we can't enjoy with our families because we need to go make sure orderliness and security is maintained in the facilities.

Ahuaa... to officers who, out of goodwill support vulnerable inmates in kind and in cash. Social Distancing is the the number one precautionary measure, but with us and our inmates, we can only do little because we're always together.

Thanks to our able Directorates, Regional Commanders and OICs for their innovations and well thought of plans to help us maintain Social Distancing and also be on guard against COVID-19.

This May Day, it is my wish and humble plea to H.E President Nana Addo Dankwa, to show us more love and care by motivating us with contagious disease allowance, so to increase the morale of officers in these trying COVID-19 moments.

I am by this piece also thanking all individuals, organizations and groups who come to our aid whenever we call on them.

Fellow officers, let's be proud of the uniform and always have the nation at heart. We should also make it a point to adhere to all precautionary protocols in and outside the facility to stop the spread of the novel COVID-19

Ayekoo to all Reformers ...Our efforts will be duly recognized soon.

The writer is a Second Class Officer with the Manhyia Local Prison and can be reached on [email protected]