Interior Minister, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak says he is working to bring businesses into the country’s prisons so inmates can learn practical skills and walk out with a real chance to rebuild their lives.
He gave the assurance during a visit to the Nsawam Prison in the Eastern Region, where he spent the day inspecting ongoing projects and meeting with staff.
The Minister toured several facilities, including the prison farm, carpentry and tailoring shops, a paper machine shop, the 800 capacity remand project and the clinic.
He praised the officers for keeping the projects running despite the difficulties they face, and said the progress he had seen reinforced his commitment to strengthening the Ghana Prisons Service.
He stressed that his work goes beyond reading reports in Accra, and that he intends to keep visiting facilities to understand conditions for himself.
He pointed to recent support for the Service, such as the donation of fifteen pick ups, two buses and a Toyota Land Cruiser, as early signs of improvement.
Mr Mohammed-Mubarak also said the Community Service Bill is under consideration by Cabinet. When passed, it will allow some offenders to serve their sentences within their communities while receiving rehabilitation and support.
He noted that this will ease pressure on crowded prisons and help offenders reintegrate more effectively.
The Minister told officers that he is in talks with potential partners to establish small businesses inside prisons, which will offer inmates practical training in areas such as agriculture, carpentry and production work.
He said this approach will help inmates return to society with skills that open doors to employment or self employment.
He thanked the prison staff for their dedication, urged them to stay committed and assured them that government remains focused on addressing their challenges.
His visit was welcomed by officers at Nsawam, who see it as a boost to morale at a time when they continue to manage heavy workloads and limited resources.
