Minister of the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has advocated for private partnerships to bolster agricultural programs within Ghana’s prison service.
He stated that inmates will participate in the cultivation of arable land owned by the Service, a strategy that aims to not only supply food for the prisons but also to generate income.
Furthermore, the minister revealed plans to create an industrial hub within the prison system to provide income-generating opportunities for inmates during their rehabilitation.
During a meeting with religious leaders in Kumasi on Thursday, April 3, he encouraged faith-based organizations to support the government’s initiatives in reforming inmates.
“We are seeking collaboration in two areas. We have a prison agriculture initiative, where we possess fertile land and facilities, but we lack the capacity to cultivate them ourselves. Out of the 14,000 inmates, only 8% are currently engaged in farming activities.
“This number is insufficient, so we require partnerships. Whether it involves the church or other organizations, we should establish an agreement to utilize machinery for land cultivation with the limited number of inmates available,” he emphasized.
In addition to agricultural advancements, the minister announced plans to implement technology in prisons to combat drug trafficking within these facilities.
“The prison service is crucial in rehabilitating offenders and facilitating their reintegration into society, yet it faces considerable challenges. Our facilities, originally designed for 9,945 inmates, now accommodate over 14,000, straining our resources. It is regrettable to note that we do not even have X-ray scanners in our prison system.”
Consequently, our correctional facilities have turned into hubs for drug trafficking, as individuals entering and exiting are not adequately screened. It is essential to implement advanced X-ray scanners to identify what individuals are bringing in and taking out. To address this issue, we are working on integrating technology by deploying scanners and surveillance cameras throughout the prison system to effectively oversee inmate activities, he remarked.
