Ghana Prisons Service Project Efiase Annual Report

PROJECT EFI SE
Kitiwa Bia Nsua
GHANA
2015-2016 VIGILANC
E FORTITUDE
HUMANITY
PRISONS
ANNUAL REPORT TO STAKEHOLDERS

GHANA PRISONS COUNCIL
PROJECT EFI SE
Kitiwa Bia Nsua
2015-2016
ANNUAL REPORT TO STAKEHOLDERS
Ghana Prisons Council Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
1ST PROJECT EFIASE—ANNUAL REPORT TO STAKEHOLDERS
© Prisons Service Council 2016
All rights reserved. Publications of the Prisons Service Council are available online or can be purchased from the
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Requests for permission to reproduce or translate Prisons Service Council publications – whether for sale or for
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The mention of specific companies or of certain manufacturers’ products does not imply that they are endorsed
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tioned.
Errors and omissions excepted, the names of proprietary products are distinguished by initial capital letters.
All reasonable precautions have been taken by the Prisons Service Council to verify the information contained
in this publication. However, the published material is being distributed without warranty of any kind, either
expressed or implied. The responsibility for the interpretation and use of the material lies with the reader. In no
event shall the Prisons Service Council be liable for damages arising from its use.
Design and layout: Innolink Ltd
This report was prepared by a team from Innolink Ltd and GPS led by Solomon Appiah, Chairman of Project
Efiase Planning Committee as lead author and editor under the supervision of the Chairman of the Prisons
Council Rev. Dr. Stephen Wengam.
Printed in Ghana.
ii
Project Efiase • Kitiwa Bia Nsua
H.E. John Dramani Mahama
President of the Republic of Ghana
One-year
iiiiii
Projectproject
Efiase •Efiase
KitiwaReport
Bia Nsua
Accounting to the people
Hon. Prosper Douglas Kweku Bani,
Minister for the Interior
iv
Rev. Dr. Stephen Yenusom Wengam
Chairman, Ghana Prison Service Council
v
Mr. Emmanuel Yao Adzator
Acting Director General of Prisons
vi
PROFILE OF MEMBERS OF PRISONS COUNCIL
Article 206 of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana states that:
There shall be established a Prisons Service Council which shall consist of –
a) the Vice-President, who shall be chairman;

b) the Minister responsible for internal affairs;
c) the Director-General of the Prisons Service;
d) a medical practitioner nominated by the Ghana Medical Association;
e) a lawyer nominated by the Ghana Bar Association;
f) the Attorney-General or his representative;
g) a representative of the Ministry of or department of state responsible for
social welfare;
h) a representative of such religious bodies as the President may, in consultation
with the Council of State, appoint;
i) two members of the Prisons Service appointed by the President in consultation
with the Council of State one of whom shall be of a junior rank;
j) a representative of the National House of Chiefs; and
k) two other members appointed by the President.
vii
CHAIRMAN - 6TH PRISONS SERVICE COUNCIL
Rev. Dr. Stephen Yenusom Wengam is the

Chairman of the 6th Prisons Service Council
appointed by His Excellency the President. He
served as member of the 5th Prisons Council
from 2009-2013.
He is the Lead Pastor of Cedar Mountain

Chapel of the Assemblies of God, East Legon
and the Resident Radio Pastor of Citi 97.3FM.
Rev. Wengam is also the West Africa

Executive Director of Global Leadership
Training, USA.
He is the immediate Past Director of

Administration of the Assemblies of God,
Ghana Headquarters.
He holds BSc Administration (Marketing

Option) from the University of Ghana and
Master of Theology from the International
Theological Seminary, USA. In July 2012, he was
REV. DR. STEPHEN YENUSOM awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity by the
WENGAM
Pan African Clergy Council and Seminary for
his contribution towards the expansion of the
kingdom of God and the development of the
human society.
Rev. Wengam seeks to involve all critical

stakeholders in the criminal justice system to
fully support the reformation and rehabilitation
of prisoners in Ghana. He is also working to
engage the private sector to partner the
Prisons Service for improved conditions
for both officers and inmates.
viii
THE ACTING DIRECTOR-GENERAL OF PRISONS
Mr. Emmanuel Yao Adzator is Acting
Director General of Prisons—commissioned
into the Ghana Prisons Service Superior
Officers Corps in April 1989.
He holds a postgraduate certificate in Human

Resource Management from the Ghana
Institute of Management and Public
Administration. Additional training courses he
has undertaken include Defense Management
Seminar GIMPA (2003), New Approach to
Psychological Services in Correctional
Institutions, Galilee College Israel (2008),
Prisons Management and Rehabilitation,
Galilee International Management Institute
Israel (2013).
Command positions and staff appointments

he has held include Staff Officer Administration,
Training, and Criminal Records Officer,
Second-In-Command Winneba Local Prison
(1999-2001), Second-In-Command James
Camp Prisons (2001-2002), General Staff
Officer Prisons Headquarters (2002-2003),
MR. EMMANUEL YAO

ADZATOR
Officer-In-Charge (OIC) Obuasi Local
Prisons (2004-2009), Second-In-Command
Medium Security Prison, Nsawam (2009-2010),
Correction Advisor UNAMID Sudan (2010-2012),
Ashanti Regional Commander and
Officer-In-Charge of Kumasi Central Prison
and Director of Prisons in charge of Technical.
The following are medals that have been

conferred upon him: Medal for 50th
Independence Anniversary of Ghana,
Peacekeeping Operations-UNAMID,
Long- Service and Good Conduct Ghana
Prison, June 4th.
ix
MINISTER FOR THE INTERIOR REPRESENTATIVE
Mr. Samuel Amankwah is the Director

Research, Statistics, Information and Public
Relations at the Ministry of the Interior.
He is also the Prisons Desk Officer at the
Ministry.
Mr. Amankwah represents the Hon. Minister

for the Interior on the Prisons Council. He is a
lawyer by profession and holds a Master of
Public Administration (MPA) from University
of Ghana Business School and BA in Social
Science. He also holds a certificate in
Public Administration from the Royal Institute
of Public Administration (RIPA) – London.
Mr. Amankwah is working to ensure that

prisoners’ issues are given priority
attention at the Ministry.
MR. SAMUEL
AMANKWAH
x
MEDICAL PRACTITIONER NOMINATED BY THE GHANA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
Dr. Kwabena Opoku-Adusei is an

Obstetrician Gynaecologist and the
immediate past President of the Ghana
Medical Association (GMA) He represents the
Ghana Medical Association on the Council.
He is the Medical Director of Tema General
Hospital and a former Medical Superintendent
of Suntreso Government Hospital. He has
been a Commissioner of Ghana AIDS
Commission and a former Vice President
of Commonwealth Medical Association.
He is a product of Kwame Nkrumah

University School of Medical Sciences.
Dr. Adusei seeks to support the Service with

the establishment of its first health directorate.
In doing this, he hopes to assist to upgrade

prisons infirmaries into clinics and establish a
prisons hospital to improve healthcare delivery
for both prisons officers and inmates.
DR. KWABENA
OPOKU-ADUSEI
xi
LAWYER NOMINATED BY THE GHANA BAR ASSOCIATION
Mr. Kwasi Amoako Adjei is a barrister and

solicitor of the Supreme Court of Ghana.
He represents the Ghana Bar Association
on the Council. A practicing lawyer for over
twenty four (24) years, he has served as the
President of the Eastern Regional Bar
Association for the past seven (7) years.
Mr. Kwasi Amoako Adjei is the founder and

a Managing Partner of Amoako Adjei
Law Consult.
He seeks to promote reforms in the

Service and ensure the introduction of
non-custodial sentencing policies
such as parole, probation and
community sentencing into the
criminal justice system in Ghana.
MR. KWASI AMOAKO

ADJEI
xii
THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL (REPRESENTATIVE)
Hon. Dr. Dominic Ayine is currently the

Deputy Attorney-General and Deputy
Minister for Justice and a Member of
Parliament for Bolgatanga East. He
represents the Attorney-General and
Minister for Justice on the Council.
Dr. Ayine holds a Bachelors of Laws (LLB)

degree from the University of Ghana, a
dual Master of Laws (LLM) degree from the
University of Michigan Law School and a
Master of the Science of Law degree from
Stanford Law School and a (JSD) Doctor
of the Science of Law from Stanford Law
School.
Since April 2000, he has held a teaching

position at the Faculty of Law, University
of Ghana, where he teaches International
Trade and Investment Law, Commercial
Law and the Law of Contracts.
HON. DR. DOMINIC Dr. Ayine has held various positions in the
AYINE
private sector including Director and
Partner of General Law Consult and
Executive Director of the Center for
Public Interest Law. He was also a
Managing Partner, Ayine and
Felli Law Offices.
xiii
RELIGIOUS BODIES REPRESENTATIVE
Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong is the

General Secretary of the Christian Council of
Ghana. Prior to his appointment, he was the
Asante Presbytery Chairperson of the
Presbyterian Church of Ghana.
He holds a Diploma in Theology and

B.A Honours both from the University
of Ghana, Legon. He holds Masters in
Theology from the Union – Presbyterian
School of Christian Education (Union PSCE),
Richmond Virginia, U.S.A. He holds a PhD
from the Akrofi-Christaller Institute,
Akropong Akuapem, Ghana.
He has served on multiple boards and is a

former Head of Department and Lecturer at
the Department of Religious Studies KNUST.
He is also an adjunct lecturer at the Trinity

Theological Seminary, Legon and the
Pentecost University College, Accra.
REV. DR. KWABENA

Dr. Opuni-Frimpong is also the
OPUNI-FRIMPONG
Moderator of the Department
of Biblical Studies, All Nations
University College Koforidua and
the Heritage Christian University
College Accra. He is a visiting academic
at the Stellenbosch University, South Africa.
xiv
SENIOR OFFICERS REPRESENTATIVE
Mr. LKA Ansah is a Director of Prisons and
currently now in charge of Technical Services.
Mr. Ansah represents Senior Officers

on the Council. He is responsible for
conveying the needs/requests of senior
officers to the Council as well as conveying
Council decisions to senior officers. He has
handled very important schedules in the
Ghana Prisons Service and held a number
of positions including the Upper East
Regional Commander.
He is a Social Worker and holds a Master of

Arts Degree in Peace and Development
from University of Cape Coast.
MR. LKA
ANSAH
xv
JUNIOR OFFICERS REPRESENTATIVE
Miss Caroline Banibatiti Kabah is a Senior
Chief Officer (SCO) by rank and represents
Junior Officers on the Council. She is
responsible for conveying the needs/requests
of junior officers to the Council as well as
conveying Council decisions
to junior officers
She holds Bachelor of Arts degree in

Psychology from Methodist University
College, Ghana.
SCO Caroline Kabah seeks to promote

the welfare of subordinate officers and
an advocate of better prison conditions
across the country. She aspires to push
for the implementation of offender
classification to reach objective,
consistent, valid decision about
the separation of inmates into
certain groups for specific
purposes.
MS. CAROLINE BANIBATITI

KABAH
xvi
THE NATIONAL HOUSE OF CHIEFS REPRESENTATIVE
Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII is the

Paramount Chief of the Abeadze Traditional
Area and a member of the National House of
Chiefs. He represents the National House of
Chiefs on the Council. He is currently the
President of the Central Regional House of
Chiefs and He is also the Acting Board
Chairman of the Electricity Company
of Ghana ECG. He was a member
of the Council of State from
2009 to 2012.
He holds Master of Arts in Governance

and Sustainable Development from
University of Cape Coast and a
professional certificate in road
construction from Dayton,
Ohio, USA.
Nana seeks to lobby chiefs to

release lands for establishment
of more camp prisons to improve
DAASEBRE KWEBU
agricultural activities in the
EWUSI VII
prison and help decongest
the crowded prisons.
xvii
PRESIDENT’S NOMINEE
Nana Baffour Okumanin is the

Mawerehene of Amanteng Traditional
Area and one of the two nominees of the
President as accorded in 1992 Constitution
of the Republic of Ghana.
Nana is the Chief Development Officer at All

Nations University, Koforidua and the Board
Chairman of Amanteng Senior High School.
He is also the Managing Director of
Okumanin Gold Ltd.
Nana is a retired army officer and holds

Diploma in Marketing and Administration
from Iowa State University, USA.
NANA BAFFOUR
OKUMANIN
xviii
PRESIDENT’S NOMINEE
Mr. Solomon Appiah is one of the two
nominees of the President as accorded in
the 1992 Constitution. He also serves as the
Chairman of the Project Efiase Planning
Committee—a subcommittee of the
Prisons Council.
He earned a BSc Honours Degree from the

Ghana Institute of Management and Public
Administration. He also holds a two-year
interdisciplinary Master of Public Policy
(M. P. P.) degree with specializations in
International Affairs and Public and
Nonprofit Management from the
Willy Brandt School of Public
Policy—a part of the faculty of Law,
Economics and Social Science at the
Universität Erfurt in Germany.
He has also studied environmental

engineering at the New Mexico Institute
of Mining and Technology in the USA.
MR. SOLOMON
APPIAH
Some of the organizations he has
consulted for include the Kofi Annan
chaired Africa Progress Panel in Geneva,
Switzerland and the Natural Resource
Governance Institute in the
United Kingdom.
xix
CONTENTS
REMARKS BY CHAIRMAN OF THE GHANA PRISONS COUNCIL 1
OVERVIEW 5
1.1 Functions of Ghana Prisons Service 8
1.2 The Need for Project Efiase 10
1.2.1 PERCEPTION 12
1.2.2 LACK OF FUNDS 12
1.2.3 INFRASTRUCTURE 12
1.2.4 CONGESTION 14
1.2.5 DISEASES 15
1.2.6 HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR 16
1.2.7 INADEQUATE WORKSHOPS AND TOOLS FOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 18
1.2.8 LACK OF CAPITAL 20
1.2.9 LACK OF OPERATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIONAL VEHICLES 20
1.2.10 LACK OF ACCOMMODATION AND OFFICE SPACE 20
1.2.11 LACK OF CAPITAL AND LOW PATRONAGE OF INMATES’ PRODUCTS 23
1.3 Latent Potential 23
1.4 Prison Workshops Available 23
Performance / Year in Review 58
2.1 Advocacy and Sensitization 60
xx
2.1.1 THREE ARMS OF GOVERNMENT AND STAKEHOLDERS
IN CRIMIANL JUSTICE SYSTEM 60
2.1.2 MEDIA HOUSES—TV, RADIO AND PRINT 60
2.1.3 ONLINE MEDIA & ARTICLES ABOUT PROJECT EFIASE 66
2.1.4 RELIGIOUS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS 84
2.1.5 INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY 100
2.1.6 PRISON AMBASSADORS AND SAMPLE ACTIVITIES
FOR PROJECT EFIASE 105
2.2 Fundraising 120
2.2.1 PROJECT EFIASE BANK ACCOUNTS 120
2.2.2 AUDITED PRISONS REFORM TRUST ACCOUNTS 122
2.3 Donations in Kind and Their Distribution 133
2.3.1 GOVERNMENT OF GHANA 133
2.3.2 HER EXCELLENCY LORDINA MAHAMA 138
2.3.3 CHIEF JUSTICE AND ASSOCIATION OF JUDGES
AND MAGISTRATES 145
2.3.4 U.S. GOVERNMENT 150
2.3.5 EMBASSY OF THE PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA 158
2.3.6 HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP DUNCAN-WILLIAMS 158
2.3.7 EPP BOOKSHOP 159
2.3.8 3M&C HEALTH SERVICES 160
2.3.9 MALKU FOUNDATION 160
2.3.10 MADAM AMA AMANKWA 160
2.3.11 OSOMPA FOUNDATION 162
2.3.12 DANIEL AMOATENG FOUNDATION 162
2.4 Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) 162
xxi
Looking Forward 166
3.1 Capacity Building 167
3.2 Health Directorate 169
3.3 Prisons Hospital 170
3.4 Health Needs Assessment 173
3.5 Project Efiase Shop/Showroom 175
3.6 Advocacy 175
3.7 Regional Project Efiase Launches 175
3.8 Logistics 175
3.9 Promotions 175
3.10 Prisons Week 176
3.11 IGF Generation 176
CHALLENGES 178
CONCLUDING NOTES 182
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 194
xxii
REMARKS BY CHAIRMAN OF THE
Project Efiase was launched on June 30,
2015 by His Excellency John Dramani
Mahama the President of the Republic of
Ghana at the invitation of the 6th Ghana
Prisons Service Council.
At this launch ceremony, the first gentleman also launched
the 10-Year Strategic Development Plan.
Project Efiase and the 10-Year Strategic Plan go hand in hand.

The former is designed to support the implementation of the
latter through a three (3) pronged approach namely:
1. Advocacy and Sensitization aimed at changing perceptions towards the corrections
sector and the Ghana Prisons Service as a whole—both locally and within the interna-
tional community
2. Fundraising to support the implementation of the 10-Year Strategic Development Plan
from both the local and international community.
3. Promotion of Public Private Partnership Agreements (PPPAs) between private as
well as public entities and the Ghana Prisons Service—aimed at meeting the needs of the
Service that the Service by itself cannot meet.
The success of the Ghana Prisons Council initiated Project Efiase can be judged from evaluating
the extent to which the above has been or not been accomplished.
One year after the launch, the 6th Ghana Prisons Council would like to:
1. Give a report to the people of Ghana about how it has implemented this
project.
2. Give an account of how cash and non-cash support donated toward the project has been
used.
Section one of this one year report will give readers an Overview and History of Project Efiase.
Section two will discuss review the past year giving readers a full disclosure of Project Efiase
activities including audited Financial Statements. Section three will address “Looking back and
forward” discussing challenges, immediate and long-term plans. It is my hope that this show of
transparency and accountability will encourage more donor support to Project Efiase.
Rev. Dr. Stephen Yenusom Wengam

1
2
3
Officers seated at
PROJECT EFIASE
LAUNCH
4
PROJECT EFIASE
OVERVIEW
“The Ghana Prisons Service (GPS) is
responsible for the safe custody of
prisoners in Ghana, as well as their
welfare, reformation and rehabilitation”
Prisons Service Act - 1972

(NRCD 46)Section - 1,
KITIWA BIA NSUA
5
We are committed
to undertake the
safe custody,
humane treatment,
reformation,
Council visits
rehabilitation and
PRESIDENT
reintegration of
MAHAMA
inmates to make at Flag Staff House
them responsible,
productive and law
abiding citizens to
PART 1
ensure public
safety.
OVERVIEW
6
“It is said that no one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its
jails. A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens,
but its lowest ones”.
-Nelson Mandela
Efiase is the Akan/Twi word for prison. The idea for Project Efiase
was mooted by the 4th Ghana Prisons Service Council (PSC). In the
year 2009, the 5th (PSC) toured the regions to inaugurate the vari-
ous Regional Prisons Committees and came face to face with some
of the poor and inhuman conditions of Ghana’s prisons under which
inmates were being held.
The 5th Prisons Service Council therefore tried to launch Project

Efiase but this did not materialize during their tenure of office.
When the 5th Ghana Prisons Ser- the Service it exercised oversight
vice Council (2009-2013) assumed responsibility over, the Council
office, it decided to take off where
their predecessors had ended. This
invited the President to come and
launch both Project Efiase and the
Project
PSC therefore initiated the for- 10-Year Strategic Development Efiase was
mulation of a 10-Year Strategic Plan.
Development Plan to tackle the launched
numerous challenges of the Ghana
Prisons Service.
His Excellency John Dramani
Mahama being concerned about to address
In December 2014, when the 6th
the conditions in Ghana Prisons
obliged and honored the invitation.
the
Ghana Prisons Service Council
were sworn into office under the
Thus six (6) months after assump-
tion of office, the 6th Council was
challenges
Chairmanship of Rev. Dr. Stephen able to launch Project Efiase. facing
Wengam, this Council decided to
launch both Project Efiase and the The process of organizing the the
10-Year Strategic Development
Plan.
launch showcased the giving heart
of Ghanaians and Corporate Gha-
Ghana
To do this, the Council sought the
na in general. The venue was rent-
ed with assistance in part from
Prisons
support of the President of the Re- the Cocoa-Cola Corporation. The Service.
public. After paying a courtesy call brochures were printed for free
on him to explain the challenges of through the instrumentality of the
7
Chairman of Prisons Council by
Innolink Ghana Limited—whose
CEO, Rev. John Darku also chaired
the historic launch of Project “Efi-
ase”. The Ghana Prisons Service
under the able leadership of its for-
mer Director General, Ms. Matilda
Baffuor Awuah also contributed
heavily towards the launch. The
Prisons Documentary as well as TV
adverts were also done by Ibrahim
Kwarteng of GBC and aired on the
same network by the kind sponsor-
ship of the state broadcasters. An-
other documentary put together
by Seth Kwame Boateng of Multi
Media Group Ltd. was also used to
promote the launch and galvanize
support for Project Efiase. Com-
mendation to Multi-Media and
other media houses who gave free
Inmates
MAKE A GIFT
slots to publicise the launch.
The idea behind Project Efiase is to for the

raise the standards of prisons ad- President on his visit
ministration in Ghana to at least to Nsawam Prison
that of UN Standard Minimum
Rules for the Treatment of Prison-
ers as well as improving the condi-
tions of Prison Officers. the safe custody and welfare
of prisoners and whenever
Project Efiase is aimed at enabling practicable to undertake the
the Ghana Prisons Service to fulfill reformation and rehabilita-
its functions. tion of prisoners.
1.1 Functions of Ghana Prisons 2) Every prison officer shall per-

Service form such functions as are by
law conferred upon a prison
Prisons Service Act - 1972 officer and shall obey all law-
(NRCD 46) ful orders and directions in
Section - 1 - Functions of the respect of the execution of
Service his office which he may re-
1) It shall be the duty of the ceive from his superiors in
Prisons Service to ensure the Prisons Service.
8
Project Efiase also aims to help son less likely to commit the same habilitation. The system and limi-
change the image of the Service crime”. The third reason why we tations of physical structures are
from one that only incapacitates, imprison people is retribution and such that it makes treatment via
deters or metes out retribution to this refers to the “concept that an rehabilitation difficult.
offenders to one that also reforms offender who serves time is pay-
and rehabilitates. If the public feeling society back for the harm done Rehabilitation though initially
all the Service does is to meet out in the crime”. The fourth and fi- costly financially speaking, is in
retribution, then there is no in- nal reason is rehabilitation which the long run cheaper financially
centive to fund rehabilitation. But refers to “the concept of provid- and socially—and much safer for
if the public knows that the core ing treatment (such as addiction society at large. The other three (3)
madate is shifting to rehabilitation treatment) and programs (such as only serve to further harden con-
and reformation, then hopefully education and job skills training) victs who invariably return to a life
the funding dynamics will also to boost the likelihood that an in- of crime after being released. These
change. mate will not return to crime when folks feel they have nothing to lose
he or she is released back to the so they are usually more danger-
People are sentenced to prison community”. ous when they re-offend. Further-
for four basic reasons. The first is more, when ex-convicts re-offend,
incapacitation which is “the con- Rehabilitation has the highest use- the state will again have to bear
cept that putting an offender in a fulness to society. It treats and re- the burden of their feeding, cloth-
secure facility prevents him/her orients the offender in such a way ing and housing. It is therefore in
from victimizing the public again”. that it reduces the likelihood of society’s best interest to shift from
The second is deterrence which re- them returning to a life of crime funding solely retribution to fund-
fers to “the concept that knowing when released. In Ghana though, ing reform and rehabilitation.”
that someone else was punished we have a history since colonial
for a crime will make another per- times of funding anything but re-
9
1.1.1 INFRASTRUCTURE mental agencies.
In 1850, the country had prison
cells in four forts and these held 1.2 The Need for Project Efiase
a maximum of 129 prisoners. In The Ghana Prison Service is estab-
1948, there were twenty-nine (29) lished by article 205 of the 1992
prison establishments all over the Constitution of the Republic of
country. Today, there are forty- Ghana as part of the Criminal Jus-
three (43) prisons around the tice System and whether or not it
country. Out of this, only three (3) is able to effectively carry out its
prisons were purposefully built as functions has a direct impact on
prisons. The other forty (40) were the maintenance of public safety
inherited from businesses or gov- in the country. This is because
ernment entities – many dating to when a prisons system simply
colonial times. warehouses inmates and does not
reform them in a systematic man-
The other challenge is many pris- ner, prisons cease to be correction-
ons were set up when the core al facilities and remain detention
function of the Service was not facilities where potential criminals
reformation and rehabilitation so who become menace to society are
most of Ghana’s prisons were not groomed.
fitted with reformatory facilities—
neither were they sited at places Project Efiase was launched to ad-
where there is enough space for dress the challenges facing the
large-scale industry. Ghana Prisons Service. These chal-
lenges keep the Service from fulfill-
The Yeji Camp Prison for instance ing its functions listed in section
used to be an abandoned clinic; 1(1) of the Prisons Service Act -
Winneba Prison used to be a ware- 1972 (NRCD 46) satisfactorily.
house dating back to colonial times;
Koforidua Prison, an armory from To solve these challenges, Project
the World War period; the Kumasi Efiase was designed to support
prison was built in 1946 and the the implementation of the 10-Year
prison at Kenyasi and Dua Yaw Nk- Strategic Plan through a three (3)
wanta were handed to the Prisons pronged approach. The plan con-
Service by the Ministry of Agricul- tains various solutions proffered
ture. The gift of land at Kenyasi by the Ghana Prisons Service for
came with a solitary structure its own ills. The three (3) pronged
which the Service had to secure approach is:
and eventually expand to house 1. Advocacy and Sensitiza-
prisoners. This is just to mention tion aimed at changing per-
a few of the 40 prisons inherited ceptions towards the correc-
from businesses and other govern- tions sector and the Ghana
10
Guard of honour for
H.E.
JOHN DRAMANI
MAHAMA
at Nsawam
Medium Security Prison
11
Prisons Service as a whole— pay courtesy calls on various local
both locally and within the and international organizations—
international community governmental and non-govern-
mental to paint a proper image of
2. Fundraising to support the the Service which is closer to reali-
implementation of the 10- ty—soliciting for assistance where
Year Strategic Development practicable for the Service.
Plan from both the local and
international community. 1.2.2 LACK OF FUNDS
In 2015, the budget of the Ghana
3. Promotion of Public Pri- Prisons Service was about fourteen
vate Partnership Agree- million Ghana Cedis. In 2016, this
ments (PPPAs) between has been slashed by almost half.
private as well as public enti- There is need for more funds for
ties and the Ghana Prisons operations, food rations, medical
Service—aimed at fulfilling expenses etc. for a population of
the needs that the Service by about 15,000 inmates and about
itself cannot meet. 5,000 officers and families. In ad-
dition to all of these, there is need
What challenges would these for money for expansion of prisons
approaches solve? infrastructure.
1.2.1 PERCEPTION Through Project Efiase, the Council

Being one major neglected public seeks to encourage corporate Gha-
institution, Project Efiase is de- na, the international communities,
signed to change the image of the religious bodies etc. to give to im-
Ghana Prisons Service. What this prove prisons conditions.
means is that the Council has to
use the media to change percep- 1.2.3 INFRASTRUCTURE
tion. But the media alone is not In 1850, the country had prison
enough. The Council would have to cells in four forts and these held
12
Communicable
Diseases
are prevalent
in Ghana’s
Prisons
CHAIRMAN
WENGAM
visits inmates at
Koforidua
13
SKILLS
TRAINING
for inmates
a maximum of 129 prisoners. In try of Agriculture. The gift of land

1948, there were twenty-nine at Kenyasi came with a solitary Public
prison establishments all over the structure which the Service had
country. Today, there are 43 pris- to secure and eventually expand Perception
ons around the country. Out of to house prisoners. This is just to influences
this, only three (3) were purpose- mention a few of the 40 prisons
fully built as prisons. The other inherited from businesses and oth- how a state
forty (40) were inherited from er governmental agencies. These funds
businesses or government entities prisons were built at a time when
– many dating to colonial times. reformation was not the core func- prisons
tion fo the service so the facilities and how
The Yeji camp prison for instance are bereft of reformatory facilities
used to be an abandoned clin- and space. ex-prisoners
ic; Winneba prison used to be a are treated
warehouse dating back to colonial 1.2.4 CONGESTION
times; Koforidua prison, an ar- The fact that many of Ghana’s in society
mory from the World War period; prisons were not purpose-built is when
the Kumasi prison was built in a contributory factor to the acute
1946 and the prison at Kenyasi and congestion challenge in the pris- released
Dua Yaw Nkwanta were handed to ons today. The authorized capacity
the Prisons Service by the Minis- of the Nsawam Medium Security
14
SKILLS
TRAINING
for inmates
Prison after construction was 717, cause of the above mentioned rea-
but the inmate population now is son. These diseases accounted for
3,500. The authorized capacity of 29 of the 86 deaths recorded in all
the Kumasi Central Prison after 43 inmates holding establishments
Ghana’s construction is 416. However, it in 2013. Officers, their families
Prisons holds about 2,500 inmates now. and the general public are also at
This situation is not uncommon risk of contracting these commu-
can in the other prison establishments nicable diseases. Since the officers
potentially around the country. work in close contact with the in-
mates and live with their families
be world 1.2.5 DISEASES in communities outside the walls,
class The high level of congestion and any infection contracted can easily
poor conditions in the prisons be passed on to their families. Visi-
centres of due to an acute lack of resources tors to the prisons could also be
reformation has turned the prison environ- infected with the diseases of pris-
ment into incubators of diseases. oners and transmit them to the
& Research shows that communi- general public.
rehabilitation cable disease such as tuberculosis,
hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS are very Similarly, inmates who go for out-
prevalent in Ghana’s prisons be- side labour in the community could
15
also infect members in the commu-
nity. Discharged inmates go back
to the community and could be a
source of transmission of diseases.
From the above, it can be argued
that prison health is a public health
concern.
1.2.6 HIGHER LEARNING:

INSTITUTIONS OF CRIMINAL
BEHAVIOR
Spatial challenges as well as a
dearth of capacity inhibit effec-
tive classification and treatment
programs—leading to a situation
where different categories of pris-
oners as well as remand prisoners
in many instances are lumped to-
gether in the same space.
This lack of effective classifica-

tion and treatment has turned
Ghana’s prisons into places where
less hardened prisoners receive
training in crime by association
with more hardened criminals, and
upon their release potentially prac-
tice their newly acquired skills on
society. This is because of the infec-
tious nature of crime.
This ought not to be so. If well re-

sourced, Ghana’s prisons can po-
tentially be world class centres of
reformation and rehabilitation—
thus fulfilling the legal mandate
that set it up.
16
SKILLS
TRAINING
for inmates
17
SKILLS
TRAINING
for inmates
1.2.7 INADEQUATE WORK- of the Gold Coast prisons today is

SHOPS AND TOOLS FOR reform rather than punishment”,
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT the main avenue through which to
After Governor Guggisberg’s in- secure the reform of prisoners was
structive comment on Regulation through trade training. Attempts
171 in 1922, that, “the chief object were made to set up industries in
18
Over time the
equipment
needed
for operation
in these
industries
have
deteriorated
the prison facilities around the rendered obsolete and the work-
country. Over time the equipments shops made redundant.
acquired for these industries have
deteriorated. With little or no The Service seeks to shift its focus
maintenance and replacement, from just warehousing convicted
most of the equipments have been persons for the purpose of inca-
19
pacitation, deterrence and retribu- 1.2.9 LACK OF OPERATIONAL
tion, and forge ahead to treat and AND ADMINISTRATIONAL VE-
equip inmates with beneficial skills HICLES
to society. This requires that work- Transportation is a big challenge to
shops and equipment necessary the Service. Most of the already in-
for this exercise are provided and sufficient vehicles have become un-
maintained to ensure continuity of serviceable. Officers often have to
programs. Many workshops which rely on their own personal vehicles
were formally used for training or take public transport in order to
inmates in some prisons have ob- perform their official duties.
solete equipment. In places where
the machines are not obsolete, the This is a very worrying phenom-
number of inmates has outgrown enon considering the security risk
the number of equipments. of conveying inmates in public
transport, for example to courts
Many of the machines in the work- and hospitals. This lack has even
shops were inherited from colonial impeded effective agriculture in
times. This hinders proper teach- the Prisons Service. This is be-
ing and learning in the workshops, cause most of the prisons (central
thereby impeding Reformation and local prisons) are located in
and Rehabilitation efforts. the middle of towns which are far
from their farm lands. Vehicles will
1.2.8 LACK OF CAPITAL therefore be needed for the trans-
Industries do not only lack suf- portation of inmates to and from
ficient and modern machines but the farming lands.
they also lack capital for materials
input. 1.2.10 LACK OF ACCOMMODA-
TION AND OFFICE SPACE
In addition, the Service has lots Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of
of arable land which can be used needs clearly spells out physiologi-
for large scale farming but it lacks cal needs of every human necessary
the capital to purchase modern for survival. These are thought to
farming equipment like tractors, be the most important needs and
cultivators, chisel plow, irrigation thus they should be met first—
equipment, harvesters, etc. With because in their absence, humans
the human resource (qualified agri- cannot function well. An example
cultural officers and inmates) at its of such a need is accommodation/
disposal, if properly resourced, the shelter.
Service could make a huge contri-
bution to Ghana’s agriculture and The Service is currently faced with
economy. the challenge of providing accom-
modation for its officers all over
20
SKILLS
TRAINING
for inmates
21
Inmates of
Nsawam
female
Prison
receiving
training in
Batik Tie
& Dye
22
the country. Most prisons have the time to visit exhibitions of the
barracks around them for accom- Service to see for themselves the
modating officers who work in quality of such products.
them. However, these barracks
are not able to accommodate the 1.3 Latent Potential
entire workforce because the num- Ghana Prisons has numerous po-
ber of officers recruited for GPS tentials. The Service boasts of
has multiplied since the construc- some of the finest, qualified, well
tion of those barracks. This has trained, disciplined, dedicated,
compelled the Prisons administra- hardworking, experienced and am-
tion to rely on rented apartments bitious Officers.
which are very expensive and has
plunged the Service into debt. The Service also has abundant la-
bor. The average national inmate
Also, most of the prisons lack office population is 14,500. About 90%
space for Officers. Officers need to are aged between 18 to 45 years—
have acceptable office spaces where many of which constitute highly
they can operate and perform their skilled labour.
duties. The Service needs to de-
velop, plan, execute and monitor The Service has workshops in all
reformation and rehabilitation prison facilities but they need to
programs for inmates. This task undergo expansion so they can ca-
cannot be efficiently and effective- ter for the inmate population while
ly performed if there are no offices also being a source of internally
for Officers to operate from. generated funds.
1.2.11 LACK OF CAPITAL AND 1.4 Prison Workshops Available

LOW PATRONAGE OF The workshops include tailor-
INMATES’ PRODUCTS ing, shoe making, auto mechan-
The Service’s industries are pro- ic, welding and fabrication, auto
ducing under capacity due to low and general electrical, vulcaniz-
capital injection into its viable ing, carpentry, ceramics, cement
production sectors. For instance, block molding, draughtsmanship,
the James Camp Prison, in Accra bamboo, bead and macramé craft.
has a cement block factory that is Others are soap manufacturing,
capable of producing 2000 quality smock and doormat production
blocks at full capacity but is cur- and blacksmithing.
rently producing only 300 blocks.
Also, the Service is engaged in
There is also low patronage of farming, poultry, piggery and
items produced by inmates. The grasscutter production.
public sometimes doubt the quali-
ty of such products and do not take Last but not the least; the Service
23
has a very vibrant music depart-
ment with top class musicians and
instrumentalists. The department
placed second in the maiden Band
Competition of Security Agencies
(BACOSA) held at the National
Theater in Accra. The music de-
partment can be contracted to per-
form at all occasions via the Prison
Headquarters.
24
SKILLS
TRAINING
for inmates
25
Age range Cumulative Frequency %
12 – 17 59 59 0.84
18 – 25 3,228 3169 45.13
26 – 35 5,402 2174 30.96
36 – 45 6,403 1001 14.26
46 – 50 6,773 370 5.27
51 – 60 6,914 141 2.01
61 – 70 7,022 108 1.54
71+ 7,022 0 0
TOTAL 7022 100.00
26
SKILLS
TRAINING
for inmates
27
28
HISTORIC VISIT OF
JOHN DRAMANI
MAHAMA
TO NSAWAM PRISONS AT THE
INVITATION OF PRISONS
COUNCIL
29
30
31
32
INMATES
responding to
PRESIDENT’S
ADDRESS
33
PRESIDENT
inspecting
GUARD OF HONOUR
34
35
PRESIDENT
signs with
GREEN PEN
at the gate of
Nsawam Prison
PRESIDENT and
MINISTER OF FINANCE
greet
CHIEF JUSTICE
at Nsawam Prison
36
PRESIDENT
and
OTHER DIGNITARIES
inspect
PRISON INDUSTRIES
37
PRESIDENT
on a tour of
NSAWAM MEDIUM
SECURITY PRISON
38
PRESIDENT
inspects Cell Block
and listens to
petition of
INMATE
INMATES
sing for
H.E. THE
PRESIDENT
39
INMATES
responding to
PRESIDENT’S
ADDRESS
40
41
PRESIDENT
MAHAMA
addresses
PRISONERS
at Nsawam Prison
42
43
PRESIDENT
inspects
PRISON INDUSTRY
44
President shaking
hands with the
CHAIRMAN
of the Prisons Council
REV. DR. WENGAM
President discussing
issues with
INMATES
in their cells
45
PRESI
inspecting
build
constru
INMA
an
OFFIC
46
IDENT
structures/
dings
ucted by
ATES
nd
CERS
47
President, Finance
Minister and Prisons
Council inspecting
PRISON
INFIRMARY
48
49
PROJECT
EFIASE
LAUNCH
From L-R,
Hon Mark
Woyongo
President
John Mahama
Rev. Dr.
Stephen
Wengam
Rev. John
Darku 50
Courtesy call on
PRESIDENT
by Prisons Council
51
PRESIDENT
inspecting
PRISONS
INDUSTRIES
52
53
Courtesy call on
THE MINISTRY
OF THE INTERIOR
54
Courtesy call on the
ATTORNEY
GENERAL
PROJECT EFIASE
PERFORMANCE
YEAR IN REVIEW
Fundraising to support the
implementation of the 10-Year
Strategic Development Plan from
both the local and
international community.
KITIWA BIA NSUA
55
56
57
Courtesy call on
NATIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
PLANNING
COMMISSION
PART 2
Performance / Year in Review
58
The performane meeting the needs will be on Advocacy Private Partner-
of Project Efiase of the Service that and Sensitization ship Agreements.
can be measured the Service by itself done thus far, Fun- At the end, the
by evaluating cannot meet. draising and how reader can judge the
what it set out these funds raised performance of the
to do. What did The following sec- have been disbursed project thus far.
the Project set tions of this report and finally Public
out to do from its
inception? It was
set up to do three
(3) main things
namely:
Advocacy and
Sensitization
aimed at changing
perceptions towards
the corrections sec-
tor and the Ghana
Prisons Service
as a whole—both
locally and within
the international
community
Fundraising to
support the imple-
mentation of the
10-Year Strategic
Development Plan
from both the local
and international
community.
Promotion of
Public Private
Partnership
Agreements
(PPPAs) between
private as well as
public entities and
the Ghana Prisons
Service—aimed at
Prison Council calls on
H.E. JOHN D.
MAHAMA
2.1 Advocacy and Sensitization heads of the Executive, Legislature

The purpose for this is to first and Judiciary. It has paid courtesy
correct perceptions of the public calls on the Minister of Justice,
about prisons and also to put the Minister for Local Government.
sector on the national agenda. Minister of Agriculture and other
government agencies. It has also
On this front, it can be safely said paid courtesy calls on the past and
that the Ghana Prisons Council present Ministers for the Inte-
has safely put prisons issues on rior—our parent Ministry and the
the national policy agenda. past and present Inspector Gener-
als of the Police Service.
2.1.1 THREE ARMS OF
GOVERNMENT AND All these courtesy calls are advo-
STAKEHOLDERS IN cacy and sensitization missions.
CRIMIANL JUSTICE SYSTEM
The Council has paid courtesy calls 2.1.2 MEDIA HOUSES
on all stakeholders in the criminal —TV, RADIO AND PRINT
justice system—specifically on the The Chairman of the Council did
60
Prisons Council
calls on
CHIEF JUSTICE
Parliament
Prisons Council calls on

LEADERSHIP OF
PARLIAMENT
61
Visit to
CITI fm
lobby and has spoken for Ghana • 3fm • Kasapa fm

Prisons Service on almost all ma- • Radio XYZ • Life fm
jor media platforms in Ghana. To • Starr fm • Asempa fm
name a few, he has advocated for • Citi fm • Top fm
the Project and sensitized Ghana- • Happy fm • Peace fm
ians via: • Joy fm
• Uniiq fm TV STATIONS IN
RADIO STATIONS IN ACCRA • Adom fm ACCRA
• Sunny 88.7 fm • Vision 1 fm • GTV
• Radio Gold • Okay fm • TV3
• Light TV
62
Visit to
GBC
63
63
Project
Project
Efiase
Efiase
• Kitiwa
• Kitiwa
BiaBia
Nsua
Nsua
• TV Africa
• Etv
• Adom TV
• Viasat 1 TV
• GH One TV
• BTA
• Pent TV
• Metro TV
• Zoe TV
• Joy TV
5 RADIO STATIONS AND

2 TV STATIONS IN
KUMASI
• Ultimate fm
• Kesben fm
• Garden City Radio
• Angel fm
• OTEC fm
• Royal TV
• Kessben TV
4 RADIO STATIONS IN
TAMALE
• North Star Radio
• Kessmi fm
• Diamond fm
• GBC Radio
The Chairman and the

Council Members visited
many of these stations more
than once championing the
cause of the Ghana Prisons
Service and sensitizing the
citizenry—in a an attempt
to change negative percep-
tions.
64
Courtesy call on
Kwasi
Pratt
65
PRINT MEDIA within a space of about four (4)
A lot of articles have been pub- months. There are a couple at-
lished in many of the established tached from the month of May
print media including the daily preceding the launch.
Graphic, The Weekly Spectator, The
Finder, The Inquisitor and others. In addition to what others have
written about the Project Online,
2.1.3 ONLINE MEDIA & ARTI- the Project also has a blog dedi-
CLES ABOUT PROJECT EFIASE cated to its activities and can be
The number of online media re- accessed via: http://efiaseproject.
portage on the Project was over- wordpress.com/
whelming such that it cannot all
be captured here. Below is a table The Project also has a dedicated
capturing a sample published from Facebook and Twitter page.
June – September 2015, that is,
Courtesy call on
TV3
66
Courtesy call on
GHANA
JOURNALIST
ASSOCIATION
67
S/No. Article Title Date Author
1 NHIA to license Nsawam

Prisons Infirmary 18th September, 2015 www.citifmonline.com
The Future of Prisons in Africa

2 14th September, 2015 Foresight for Development-Africa
3 NHIA registers inmates of the

Amanfrom Camp Prison 18th September, 2015 Ghana News

4 Improvements in Ghana’s Prisons:
A Review of the UN Special 17th September, 2015 ASP Jackson Agyepong
Rapporteurs’ Report (www.spynewsagency.com)
5 Ghana News – NHIA registers inmates

of the Amanfrom Camp Prison 17th September, 2015 www.myjoyonline.com
Help Project Efiase Make Ghana Safer

6 23rd August, 2015 Spynewsagency.com
7 Opinion: The hour for prison

reforms is now 16th September, 2015 ASP James Annan
8 Prison Decongestion:
Prez Mahama Launches “Efiase” Project 1st July, 2015 News on TV3
9 Reformation and Rehabilitation

in a Safer and Condusive Prison 16th September, 2015 DSP Michael Obeng
Environment (www.modernghana.com)

10 19th August, 2015 The African Ray
Efiase Project receives overwhelming support

11 13 August, 2015 news.ayekoo.com
President grants nine hundred (900)

12
prisoners amnesty to mark republic day 5th July, 2015 Page Administrator
Efiase Project to impact work of

13
police officers-Mark Woyongo 3rd July, 2015 www.news.ayekoo.com
Project Efiase: Improving Public Safety

14 5th July, 2015 Solomon Appiah
(www.modernghana.com)
Human Interest: “Government to prioritize”

15 5th July, 2015 Albert Benefo Buabeng
(www.pulse.com.gh)
16 Project Efiase: A Catalyst for Prison Reforms 5th July, 2015 ASP James Annan

17 Project efiase: Funding Reform and 5th July, 2015 Solomon Appiah
Rehabilitation for a better future (www.newsghana.com.gh)
1000 Inmates of Nsawam Prisons

18 15th September, 2015 Eyra Doe
Sign Up for NHIS (www.modernghana.com)
Medium Security Prison High
19
Court sitting October 6 31st August, 2015 www.ghananewsagency.org
MTN mobile money to assist Ghana
20
Prisons Service in “EFIASE” project 30th August, 2015 www.eyeghana.com
68
Prisons Service pays courtesy call on al-haJJ

21 29th August, 2015 www.newsghana.com.gh
Help Project Efiase make Ghana Safer

22 29th August, 2015 www.spynewsagency.com
High Commissioner commends Prisons

23
Ambassador Extraordinaire 28th August, 2015 www.ghananewsagency.com
Remarks by chinese Ambassador to Ghana

24
H.E Sun Baohong at the launch of “Efiase” 25th August, 2015 www.gh.chinessembassy.org
project of Ghana
Help us transform our prisons;

25
it could be you – Rev. Wengam 24th August, 2015 www.citifmonline.com
Prison Update
26 24th August, 2015 www.paper.li
Deputy Minister begins ‘Post Efiase project’

28 23rd August, 2015 www.ghananewsagency.org

29 19th August, 2015 Solomon Appiah
Malku Foundation Medical Outreach to

30
Nsawam Prison 19th August, 2015 www.spynewsagency.com
MTN Mobile Money Partners Ghana Prison Service

31
to Mobilizes Resources for Project Efiase 19th August, 2015 www.modernghana.com
Project Efiase & 2015 mid-year budget review

32 21st July, 2015 www.solomonappiah.com
Professor Emmanuel Asante: Service to the

33
Prisoner Is Service to Jesus 21st July, 2015 www.solomonappiah.com
President Assures Prisons Service of increase

34 5th July, 2015 Sule Jote
budget allocation – Government of Ghana (www.ghana.gov.gh)
Government to prioritize improvement of

35
prisons – President Mahama 5th July, 2015 www.ghananewsagency.com
Mahama to visit Nsawam Prisons Today

36 5th July, 2015 www.timefmghana.com
Project Efiase: Funding Reform and Rehabilitation

37 5th July, 2015 www.viasat1.com
Mahama to visit Nsawam Prisons Today

38 5th July, 2015 Kwame Acheampong
(www.starrfmonline.com)
Remission for prisoners to ease congestion

39
in prisons – President Mahama 5th July, 2015 www.graphic.com.gh
Government to Grant Special Remission to Prisoners

40 5th July, 2015 Henritta Afful
(www.gbcghana.com)
Mahama vows to grant more Amnesty, Decongest prisons

41 5th July, 2015 www.ghanaweb.com
Ghana News – President Mahama honours Joy

42
FM’s Kwame Boateng 5th July, 2015 www.myjoyonline.com
69
43 Ghana Prisons Service launches ‘Project Efiase’ 5th July, 2015 www.graphic.com.gh
Improving Public Safety in Ghana Through its Prisons Service

44 5th July, 2015 www.ireport.cnn.com
Ghana News – If Jesus was in prison,

45
would you give Him GHS 1.00? Prison Service pleads 5th July, 2015 www.myjoyonline.cpm
for contribution
President Mahama to launch the “Efiase” project

46
by Prisons Council 5th July, 2015 www.myradio360.com
Project Efiase: Improving Public Safety

47 26th June, 2015 www.ghananews24.com/news
Project Efiase Launch in Pictures

48 24th July, 2015 www.citifmonline.com
Prisons Service reschedules launch of Project Efiase

49 24th June, 2015 www.ghananewsagency.org
Improving Public Safety

50 28th June, 2015 www.spynewsagency.com
Project Efiase
51 www.spynewsagency.com
Project Rfiase: A Catalyst for Prison Reforms

52 www.newsforafrica.com
Support “Efiase” Project of Prisons Service

53 30th May, 2015 www.spectator.com.gh
President Mahama launches Project Efiase

54 www.flickr.com/photos/
& 10 year Development Plan fhcommsbureau
Ghana’s Prison Project ‘Efiase’

55 27th July, 2015 www.sarpongs.blogspot.com
Prisons Council to decide on Efiase Project Trust Funds

56 2nd July, 2015 www.m.gbcghana.com
Prisons Service Council Calls on President Mahama

57 27th May, 2015 www.peasefmonline.com
Project Efiase: tool for rebranding Ghana Prisons Service

58 17th June, 2015 www.dialyheritageonline.com
Help Revive Prisons – Prison Council Tells Citizens

59 17th August, 2015 www.kapital971.com
Two-fold program to transform prisons launched

60 2nd July, 2015 www.ghanaweb.com

61 20th August, 2015 www.ghanaleaksblog.com
Project Efiase a Catalyst for Prison Reform 2015

62 www.leaguelegends.org/tag
UNFPA Rep’s Statement – United Nations Population Fund

63 10th July, 2015 www.ghana.unfpa.org
Ghana Prisons Launches Project Efiase

64 www.hubii.com
Ghana Prisons Service Launches ‘Project Efiase’

65 30th June, 2015 www.article.wn.com
Ghana Prisons Service Council Pays Courtesy Call

66 www.thecophq.org

67 19th August, 2015 www.africanewsdesk.com
70

68 1st July, 2015 www.twicsy.com

Prisons Could Start Rejecting Convicted
69
Persons – Council Chairman 30th June, 2015 www.news.jumpfon.com
Chocho Refurbishes Koforidua Prisons

70 30th June, 2015 www.dailyguideghana.com

71 1st July, 2015 www.accra.io
Project Efiase
72 www.amazonherald.com

73 1st July, 2015 www.africanewshub.com
Accept Prisoners into the Society after jail term

74 2nd July, 2015 www.banewsgh.com
Govt to Increase budget to Prisons Service

75 3rd July, 2015 www.ghana-news.adomonline.com
Prisons Service reschedules Project Efiase

76 24th June, 2015 www.globoble.com
The hour for Prison Reform is now

78 29th June, 2015 www.thesunonlinegh.com
Government to prioritize the improvement of prisons

79 5th July, 2015 www.ghanavoice.com
Captive Justice: Ghana Prisons seeks donations

80 29th June, 2015 www.firstdigitalghana.com
Efiase Project
81 www.ghana.watsupafrica.com
President Mahama to visit Nsawam Prisons on Friday

82 2nd July, 2015 www.ritefmonline.org
If Jesus was in prison, would you give him GHS1.00?

83 24th June, 2015 www.classicmagazine.biz
Cost of War Project 2015

84 www.123sayings.net
Pastor Boloetse of Assemblies of God

85 www.news4folk.net
2015 Mid-Year Review – Speech.pdf

86 21st July, 2015 www.mofep.gov.gh
10 African Trends For 2015 Africa trend Bulletin Form

87 www.minimalistinteriordesigns.xyz
International Prison News Digest

88 30th June, 2015 www.prisonstudies.org
Help us transform our prisons; it could be you

89 24th August, 2015 www.accracitytimes.com
Efiase
90 www.photo.navi-pon.com/flickr/
photo/Efiase
Prisons Struggling with GHS1.80p Feeding Fee

91 23rd July, 2015 www.ghnews360.com
President Mahama Promises to Improve Conditions

92
at the Country’s Prisons 4th July, 2015 www.talkbackgh.com
71
THANKSGIVING SERVICE FOR
INDUCTION
OF 6TH
PRISON COUNCIL
72
Rt. Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante
6th Prisons Council members, Chief Justice

and Chief Director, MOI
73
Courtesy call on
CHIEF
JUSTICE
H.L. Theodora
Woode
74
The Chief Justice of Ghana, the In-
ternational Association of Women
Judges (IAWJ) Ghana Chapter, and
the Association of Magistrates and
Judges (AMJG) donated soap and
toothpaste to the Nsawam Medi-
um Security Prison. They promised
to make similar donations to other
prisons.
75
Courtesy call on
MINISTRY OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
76
Courtesy call on
MINISTRY OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
77
78
79
Courtesy call on
MINISTER OF
FINANCE
80
Courtesy call on
MINISTRY OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS
81
Courtesy call on
OTUMFUO
OSEI TUTU
82
83
Courtesy call on
GHANA
BAR
ASSOCIATION
2.1.4 RELIGIOUS AND International • TV3 Leadership

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS Cooperation (GIZ) • Insight Newspaper
The Council has also visited • German Academic • Alhaj Newspaper
with the following advocating Exchange Service (DAAD) • Stanbic Bank
for the Ghana Prisons Service: • EPP Bookshop • UT Bank
• National Planning • Multimedia Group Ltd • UniBank
Development commission • Sunny Fm • Societe Generale
• His Royal Majesty Otum- • Citi Fm • Vodafone Ghana
fuo Nana Osei Tutu II • Kasapa Fm • MTN Ghana
• German Corporation for • GTV Leadership • Action Chapel Int.
84
Courtesy call on
PENTECOSTAL
/CHARISMATIC
COUNCIL
• Leadership of the Assemblies The Council has also visited the

of God following:
• Leadership of the Seventh • METRO TV
Day Adventist • Daily Guide
• Innolink Ltd. • Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ghana Medical Association • NewMont Gh. Ltd.
• Ghana Bar Association • Ghana Broadcasting
• Ghana Journalists Corporation (GBC)
Association • Director General, SSNIT
• Stanbic • The Finder Newspaper
85
Visit to
UNIBANK
86
87
88
89
Visit to
SUNNY fm
90
Visit to the leadership of
ASSEMBLIES
OF GOD
91
Courtesy call on
German Academic
Exchange Service
DAAD
92
Visit to
GHANA COLLEGE
OF PHYSICIANS
AND SURGEONS
93
Visit to
DAILY GUIDE
ACCRA
94
Courtesy call on
VODAFONE
95
Courtesy call on
METRO TV
96
97
Visit to
GJA
98
Visit to
PENTECOST
LA
Visit to
SDA
99
2.1.5 INTERNATIONAL calls are varied. The China Embas-
COMMUNITY sy donated sewing machines and
The Prisons Council embarked on computers with a promise to do
courtesy calls to Embassies and Con- more later. The U.S. Embassy has
sulates in Ghana to advocate for the orchestrated the training of four
Prisons Service and sensitize them (4) batches of officers in Offender
about the plight of the Service. Many Classification.
responded favorably with some
asking that requests be channeled • The first and second batch
through the Ministry of Foreign Af- were sent to Colorado USA.
fairs or the Ministry of Finance.
The dividends of these courtesy • The third batch were trained
at the West Africa Regional
100
Courtesy call on
INDIAN
HIGH COMMISSION
Training Center in Accra classification that is also well-imple-

with facilitators flown mented”.
in from the USA—for an
Offender Classification A sample of embassies visited are
Workshop from April 11-15,
listed below:
2016.
• Embassy of the United
• The fourth batch was sent to States of America
Virginia, USA. • Embassy of the People’s
Republic of China
To quote the facilitators, “Effec- • German Embassy
tive prison management requires • French Embassy
a thoughtful approach to offender
101
Courtesy call on
RUSSIAN
AMBASSOR
The Prisons Council has visited and dis- • Brazilian Embassy

cussed opportunities with Poject Efiase • Cuban Embassy
and Prisons Reform with the following • Indian High Commission
members of the international commu- • Embassy of the Republic of Korea
nity: • UNICEF
• Embassy of the Russian • UNDP
Federation • Embassy of Kingdom of the Netherlands
• Japanese Embassy • French Embassy
• Malaysian Embassy • Danish Embassy
• Danish Embassy • Turkey Embassy
• Consulate of Belgium • Israeli Ambassador to Ghana
• Iranian Embassy
102
The Chairman of the 6th
Ghana Prisons Council,
Rev. Dr. Stephen Wengam paid a
courtesy call on the
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OF COLORADO STATE
DEPT
of Corrections,
RICK RAEMISCH
103
VISIT OF U.S. GOVERNMENT
OFFICIALS TO DO
NEEDS
ASSESSMENT
ON GHANA PRISONS
104
IBRAHIM
KWARTENG
Project Efiase Prisons
Ambassador
The Prisons 2.1.6 PRISON AMBASSADORS documentary that was aired at the
AND SAMPLE ACTIVITIES FOR launching of the Project. Other
Council has PROJECT EFIASE prison documentaries he has pro-
In a bid to increase advocacy, the duced include:
accredited Prisons Council engaged media
media practitioners and others who have
excelled in their craft to assist the
“Inside Prison”- A documentary
that projects conditions in the
diplomats and Council to do advocacy for the country’s prisons and efforts by
project. These persons who were Government to make the Prisons a
sent them unveiled at the launch have been purely correctional institution.
out as its dubbed “Prisons Ambassadors”.
Here are some activities from a few “Prisons Agriculture “ - A docu-
representatives in ambassadors: mentary that highlights the poten-
tial of the Ghana Prisons Service in
the media to aid IBRAHIM OPPONG Agriculture as a veritable hub that
advocacy for KWARTENG could contribute significantly to
Mr. Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng of the country’s food needs.
prisons issues the Ghana Broadcasting Corpo-
ration is a Project Efiase Prisons “Life in Prison” - A documentary
i.e. Prisons Ambassador has supported the featuring prisoner confessions, the
Ambassadors advocacy drive of Project Efiase mistakes they made and their ad-
by producing the Project Efiase vice to the public to stay off crime
105
Mr. Kwarteng has also launched a release of the first documentary in
crime prevention initiative to com- 2015, Ghana did not have even one
plement efforts by Government to remand home. The only one was a
reduce crime in the country. The cam- fort which had been decommis-
paign sensitizes the public to the dan- sioned. Thankfully as
gers of crime through the screening
of prison documentaries in schools, Thankfully as a result of the visit a result of the
churches, mosques, and communities
in an effort to deter crime.
of His Excellency John Dramani
Mahama to the Nsawam Medium
visit of His
Mr. Kwarteng through the spon-
Security Prison at the invitation of Excellency
the 6th Prisons Council, the Gov-
sorship of GBC hosts a new TV ernment of Ghana has allocated John Dramani
educational program called “Time funds for the construction of new
with the Prisoner”—the first ever remand facilities. Construction Mahama to
prisoner interactive series in the
country. It features prisoners from
has begun.
the Nsawam
various crime categories confess-
ing to their crimes in congested
Mr. Boateng’s documentary also
highlighted long waiting periods
Medium
prison settings, the harm they that remand prisoners had to en- Security
have caused society, what pushed dure before seeing a judge.
them into crime, and their advice Prison at the
to the public to stay away from The Council has paid courtesy calls
crime. The programme is aired on on the judiciary and asked for as- invitation of
Ghana Television every Friday at
4:30 pm. This airtime was allocated
sistance in this area. Thankfully a
new Appeal Court was commis-
the 6th
to Ghana Prisons Service after the
Council paid a courtesy call on the
sioned at the Nsawam Prison Com-
plex to help deal with the challeng-
Prisons
Director General of GBC. es that the GPS faces transporting Council, the
inmates to court far from the pris-
SETH KWAME BOATENG on. Government
Mr. Seth Kwame Boateng of the
Multimedia Group is a Project Efi- Below are names of all Prisons Am- of Ghana has
ase Prisons Ambassador. He was
adjudged Journalist of the Year. His
bassadors. These all help in various
ways including discussing prisons
allocated
masterpiece documentary titled
‘Locked and Forgotten’ highlighted
issues and offering airtime for
Council advocacy:
funds for the
the flight of Ghana Prisons Service. • Selassie Ibrahim (Mrs) construction
• Mr. Kwame Sefa Kayi
Mr. Seth Kwame Boateng has re- – Peace fm
of new
leased another breathtaking docu-
mentary on Ghana Prisons dubbed
• Mr. Ibrahim Kwarteng– GBC remand
• Mr. Seth Kwame Boateng
“left to rot”. The above mentioned
documentataries have contributed – JOY fm facilities.
significantly to the success of the • Kokui Selormey–Viasat 1
“Justice For All Program” meant • Eyra Doe
to facilitate the speedy trials of re- - Cedar Mountain Chapel
mand prisoners. At the time of the
106
SETH KWAME
BOATENG
PRISONS AMBASSADOR
• Fiifi Banson – Kasapa • Bola Ray – Starr fm – XYZ fm

• Pastor David Gmercie • Kwame Sakyiamah • Alhaji Alhassan Suhini
- Cedar Mountain Chapel – Lexis Bill (Joy fm) – Radio Gold
• Mr. Ken Kuranchie • Obour • Alhaji Dr. Mustapha
• Bernard Avle – Citi fm – MUSIGA President Boateng – M.D. Chocho
• Jessica Opare Saforo • Nana Adwoa Awindor • Mandy Obiri Yeboah
– Citi fm • Akua Sarpong (Mrs) – M.D. Mandy
• Dr. Abeiku Aggrey • Mr. Gideon Yosah • Mr Kwame Macafui
(Santana) – Okay fm • George Sarpor – GBC
• Patrice Amegashie – Viasat 1 • Alhaji Morrow Awudu
107
Courtesy call on
BRAZILIAN
AMBASSADOR
108
Courtesy call on
CHINESE
AMBASSADOR
109
Courtesy call on
DANISH
EMBASSY
110
Courtesy call on
DUTCH
EMBASSY
111
Courtesy call on
FRENCH
EMBASSY
112
Courtesy call on
GERMAN
EMBASSY
Courtesy call on
BELGIUM
CONSULATE
113
Courtesy call on
JAPANESE
AMBASSADOR
114
As part of Malaysian Government
Support for Project Efiase, it has
given slots for GPS officers to visit
the Correctional Academy of Ma-
laysia (AKM), one of the Training
Institutes under MTCP to partici-
Courtesy call on pate in a short course entitled ‘Cer-
MALAYSIAN
tificate in Human Development
Plan Towards Inmates’. The Ghana
EMBASSY Prisons Council says thank you to

the Malaysian government and its
Ambassador to Ghana
115
As a result of meetings with the
Prisons Council, the U.S. Embassy
has orchestrated the training of four
(4) batches of officers in
Offender Classification.
• The first and second batch

were sent to Colorado USA.
• The third batch were trained

at the West Africa Regional
Training Center in Accra with
facilitators flown inform the
USA—for an Offender
Classification Workshop
from April 11-15, 2016.
• The fourth batch was sent to

Virginia, USA.
116
Visit to
US EMBASSY
ACCRA
Current Ambassador
117
Visit to
US EMBASSY
ACCRA
Former Ambassador
118
Courtesy call on
CUBAN
AMBASSADOR
119
2.2 Fundraising
In the past year, Project Efiase re-
ceived support in cash and kind for
the Ghana Prisons Service. The mon-
ies collected were lodged into bank ac-
counts listed below.
2.2.1 PROJECT EFIASE BANK

ACCOUNTS
There are three (3) signatories to the
Project Efiase account namely the
Chairman of the Ghana Prisons Ser-
vice Council, the Chairman of the
Project Efiase Planning Committee—a
sub-committee of the Prisons Council
and the Director General of the Ghana
Prisons Service.
1. Bank: Ecobank Bank Ghana Ltd.

Branch: Ridge, Accra.
Account Name: Prisons Reform Trust.
Account Number:
0010084415563401
2. Bank: Royal Bank

Branch: Castle Road
Account Name: Prisons Reform Trust
Account Number: 0210312745617
3. Bank: uniBank Ghana Limited

Branch: World Trade Centre Building
(Dollar Account)
4. Bank: uniBank Ghana Limited

Branch: World Trade Centre Building
(Cedi Account)
120
Project Efiase
FUND
RAISER
121
Prisons Reform Trust has 3 signatories namely the Chairman of the Prisons Council, the Director
General of Prisons and the Chairman of the Project Efiase Planning sub-committee.
CORPORATE INFORMATION
Director Rev. Dr. Stephen Wengam (Chairman)

Mr. Emmanuel Adjator (Ag Director General)
Dr. Dominic Ayini
Mr. Samuel Amankwah
Mr. Solomon Appiah
Mr. Amoako Agyei
Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frimpong
Dr. Kwabena Opoku Edusei
Nana Baffour Okumanin
Daasebre Kweku Ewusie VII
DOP L.K.A Ansah
SCO Caroline Banie Bati Kabah

Registered office Prisons Headquarters
Cantonments
P.O. Box 129
Accra
Auditor Linkgates Consult

Nako House, 58 Forest Avenue
Off N1 Highway, Dzorwulu
Box OS 3076
Osu, Accra

Bankers Ecobank Ghana Limited
Royal Bank
123
REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS
The directors present herewith their report together with the audited financial statements of PRIS-
ONS REFORM TRUST for the period ended 31 March 2016.
Statement of directors’ responsibilities

The directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements for each financial year
which give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the company and of the receipts and payments
and income and expenditure for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the directors
have selected suitable accounting policies and then applied them consistently, made judgements and
estimates that are reasonable and prudent and followed International Financial Reporting Standards
and Prisons Service Act, 1972 (NRCD 46).
The directors are responsible for ensuring that the company keeps proper accounting records that dis-
close with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the company. The directors are also
responsible for safeguarding the assets of the company and taking reasonable steps for the prevention
and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Principal activities
The Prisons Reform Trust (Project Efiase) was launched by the Prisons Service Council in-part to en-
able the Ghana Prisons Service to fulfill its functions by contributing to the safety of the nation by
soliciting for donations to improve prison conditions and reduce the infectious nature of crime in
Ghana.
Financial results
The financial results for the period ended 31 March 2016 are set out below:

GHS
Income for the period is 252,264.70
Expenditure for the period 115,088.23
leaving a surplus carried forward on the accumulated fund account of 137,176.47

124
REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR TO THE MEMBERS OF PRISONS REFORM
TRUST
REPORT ON THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

We have audited the accompanying financial statements of PRISONS REFORM TRUST. These finan-
cial statements comprise the statement of financial position as at 31 March 2016 and the receipts and
payments account and income and expenditure account for the period then ended and other explana-
tory notes.
Directors’ responsibility for the financial statements

The directors are responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and with the requirements of the Ghana
Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179) and the Prisons Service Act, 1972 (NRCD 46). This responsibility
includes: designing, implementing and maintaining internal controls relevant to the preparation and
fair presentation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to
fraud or error; selecting and applying appropriate accounting policies; and making accounting esti-
mates that are reasonable in the circumstances.
Auditor’s responsibility
Our responsibility is to express an independent opinion on these financial statements based on our
audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing. Those Stan-
dards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform our audit to obtain
reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatements.
An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures
in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgement, including the
assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or
error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal controls relevant to the en-
tity’s preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures
that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the
effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness
of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as
well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements.
We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for
our audit opinion.
Opinion
In our opinion, the accompanying financial statements give a true and fair view of the financial posi-
tion of the Prisons Reform Trust as at 31 March 2016 and of its financial performance for the period
then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and comply with the
Ghana Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179) and the Prisons Service Act, 1972 (NRCD 46).
125
REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
TO THE MEMBERS OF PRISONS REFORM TRUST (continued)
REPORT ON OTHER LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

The Ghana Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179) requires that in carrying out our audit we consider and
report on the following matters. We confirm that:
i) we have obtained all the information and explanations which to the best of our knowledge
and belief were necessary for the purposes of our audit;
ii) in our opinion proper books of account have been kept by the company, so far as appears
from our examination of those books;
iii) the company’s balance sheet and profit and loss account are in agreement with the books of
account.
Signed: Elvis Aaron Amenyitor (ICAG/P/1370)
For and on behalf of:

LINKGATES CONSULT (ICAG/F/2016/205)
Nako House, 58 Forest Avenue
Off N1 Highway, Dzorwulu
Box OS 3076 OSU,
Accra
Tuesday, 21st June

Date:……………………………… 2016
126
RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31ST MARCH, 2016
(All amounts are expressed in Ghana cedis)
Notes

Opening Balance at Ecobank Cedi 9,500.00
Opening Balance at UniBank WTC Cedi 50.00
9,550.00
ADD RECEIPTS:
DONATIONS RECEIVED AND BANKED:
Ecobank Cedi Account 1 181,034.70
Royal Bank Cedi Account 1 57,500.00
Unibank WTC Forex ($1,100@ 3.80) 1 4,180.00 242,714.70

LESS PAYMENTS:
Payments from Ecobank Cedi Account 107,164.00
Bank Charges Ecobank 1,618.73
Bank Charges Royal Bank 305.50 109,088.23
Cash Balance as at 31st March 2016 143,176.47

BANK RECONCILIATION STATEMENT AS AT THE PERIOD ENDED 31ST MARCH, 2016
Balance as per Receipts and Payments Account 143,176.47
Add Unpresented Cheque: Cheque-Ekube Odoi Atsem-EBL 000073 500.00
143,676.47

Represented by Bank Statement Balances:
Ecobank Cedi Account 82,251.97
Royal Bank Cedi Account 57,194.50
Unibank WTC Forex ($1,100@ 3.80) 4,180.00
143,676.47
127
INCOME AND EXPENDITURE ACCOUNTS FOR THE PERIOD ENDED 31ST MARCH, 2016
DONATIONS RECEIVED:
Amount transferred from Prisons Operations Account 9,500.00
Ecobank Cedi Account 181,034.70
Royal Bank Cedi Account 57,500.00
Unibank WTC Forex ($1,100@ 3.80) 4,180.00
252,264.70

LESS EXPENDITURE
Launching Expenses 4,850.00
Media Engagements and Plaques 2,660.00
Meeting with Prison’s Ambassadors 4,000.00
Storage and Transportation of Tuna(Donation) for Prison Inmates 6,500.00
Strategic Leadership Workshop for 150 Prison Officers 65,774.00
Trip to Tamale-Airfare and Imprest 2,000.00
Visit to Manhyia Palace (Otumfuo) 7,345.00
Workshop on Corporate Governance for 70 Officers 13,900.00
Cost of Drawings for Proposed Hospital 135.00
Accountancy and Audit Fees 6,000.00
Bank Charges 1,924.23 115,088.23
SURPLUS 137,176.47

128
STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION AS AT 31ST MARCH, 2016
ASSETS
Current Assets
Cash at Bank 143,176.47

LIABILITIES
Current Liabilities
Accountancy and Audit Fees 6,000.00
NET ASSETS 137,176.47

FINANCED BY:
Accumulated Fund 137,176.47
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors
Tuesday, 21st June

on …………..........................… 2016 and were signed on its behalf by:
129
NOTES
(All amounts are expressed in Ghana cedis unless otherwise stated)
1. Donations
All donations received were deposited into the bank accounts.
A total amount of GHS 242,714.70 has been received as donations/pledges.
2. Payments
All payments were made through the bank.
3. Current Liabilities- GHS 6,000

This is in respect of Accountancy and Audit Fees.

4. Cash and cash equivalents
For the purpose of the cash flow statement, the period end cash and cash equivalents comprise
the following:

Bank and cash balances 143,676.47
5. Accumulated Fund
This is the excess of income over expenditure during the period transferred from the income
and expenditure account to the accumulated fund account.
6. Commitments
There were no commitments at 31 March 2016.
130
THANK YOU NOTE TO ALL WHO HAVE
SUPPORTED PROJECT EFIASE
The Ghana Prisons Service and its Council would like to thank the following persons and organiza-
tions for their pledges to Project Efiase. Many of these pledges have been redeemed and some remain
to be redeemed. Your financial support helps us to continue in our mission and to promote Prisons
reforms through Project Efiase and the 10-Year Strategic Development Plan.
The generous support of individuals and organizations like you makes it possible for the Service and
its Council to improve conditions.
PLEDGERS • Innolink Ltd.

• H. E. John Dramani Mahama • Kingdom Auto Parts
• Rev. Stephen Wengam • Joyce Aryee
• Accra Composts Plant • Kingdom Auto Parts
• Accra Diocese Christ Little Band • Kwesi Darko - MD Innolink Ltd
(Methodist - Gh.) • Laurence Awuye
• Adams Life Assurance Co. Ltd & CIG • Lawrence Awunye
Microfinance Ghana Limited • Mabot Security Service Ltd
• Adelaide Anno-Kumi • Magnus Cofie
• Adom Mount Zion Prayer Ministry (Kasoa) • Mamuda Toobrazune Seidu
• Akua Sarpong Awisa • Maxwell Adjei Sarpong
• Alhaji Mustapha Boateng • Ministry of the Interior
• All Nations University (Nana Okumanin) • Ministry of Transport
• Atomic Hills Baptist Church • Mohammed Adamu (Wab Harm Foundation)
• BBS Engineering • Naa Densua
• Cal. Bank Ltd. • Okyere Akomeah Dabana
• Caroline Reindorf • Osompa Foundation
• Cedar Mountain Chapel • Papa Yaw Afoakwa
• Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry • Parliament of Ghana
• Charles Ameyaw • Parliament of Ghana
• Chief Director - Ministry of the Interior • Peaceful Character Education Foundation (Pcef)
• Church of Pentecost • Prison Inmates - Nsawam
• Coca Cola Gh. Ltd • Prison Officers - Eastern Region
• Dahmata Yabre • Regional Maritime University (Augustine Attey)
• Daily Searchlight • Retired Prison Officers Association (REPOA)
• Daniel Amoateng Foundation • Royal Bank
• Yao Mfodwo • Sebastian Klenam Asem
• Emmanuel Dibango • Seidu Mamuda
• Faustina Adjei • Selassie Ibrahim
• Fountain Gate Chapel • Serwaa Bonsu Afoakwa
• Ghana Armed Forces • Sheikh Dr. Anim Bonsu
• Ghana Armed Forces Command • The Lord’s Pentecostal Church
and Staff College • Tobinco Groups of Companies
• Ghana Immigration Service (Mr. Samuel Amo Tobbin)
• Ghana Police Service • Universal Church of the Kingdom of God
• GLICO Insurance Company • Global Leadership Training USA
• Global Evangelical Church and the Mission Church, NY,
• Hon. Joe Ghartey • Braimah Mahama
131
132
2.3 Donations in Kind and Their
Distribution
Donations to the Project include
the following:
2.3.1 GOVERNMENT OF
GHANA
The Government of Ghana led the
way in donations to Project Efiase.
Having been invited by the 6th
Prisons Council to visit the pris-
ons, His Excellency John Dramani
Mahama honored this invitation.
On July 3, 2015, President Maha-
ma became the first sitting Presi-
dent in Ghana’s history to visit a
prison, enter the prison block and
engage with prisoners in the heart
of the prison—the cells. After this
one-on-one interaction, he had a
durbar with all 3,500 inmates. This
was unprecedented. Following his
visit, President Obama has fol-
lowed in President Mahama’s foot-
steps became the first sitting U.S.
president to visit a federal jail.
Recalling this historic visit in sup-

port of Project Efiase, the Minister
of Finance commented under sec-
tion 33 of the 2015 mid-year re-
view of the budget statement and
economic policy that:
“Recall His Excellency’s visit to the

Nsawam Prisons after participating
in the Efiase Project. As he observed,
it is another area of SUPREME HU-
MANITARIAN NEED that requires
Government action. Every effort is
being made by relevant MDAs to
reprioritize expenditures to comple-
133
ment the promise of GH¢50 mil-
lion assistance to enable us respond
to these needs appropriately. Plans
are also being put in place, including
the alignment of IGFs and statutory
funds to mitigate the risk of similar
future disasters”.
Bearing this supreme humanitar-

ian need in mind and also hav-
ing been briefed by the Council of
acute transportation challenges,
the Government of Ghana has
given the Ghana Prisons Service
seventy-seven vehicles—replacing
old worn out Mahindras with:
• Seven (7) Toyota Prado’s
• Ten (10) Mitsubishi buses,
• Twenty (20) New Nissan
Navara pickup trucks
• Seven (7) Toyota Camry’s
• Seven (7) Nissan Sentra
• Six (6) Nissan Sunny saloon
cars
• Twenty (20) Yamaha
Motorcycles
As part of the donations by the

Government of Ghana:
• Ministry of the Interior do-
nated one (1) bus to Project
Efiase
• Ministry of Transport has
pledged one (1) bus to Proj-
ect Efiase.
When the 6th Council visited with

the President, they explained the
challenges faced when inmates
were not on National Health Insur-
ance. This challenge too has been
resolved by the Government of
Ghana.
134
PRESIDENT
at the gate of
NSAWAM
PRISON
135
The National Health Insurance total of about 15,000 have been
Authority (NHIA) and the Minis- registered.
So far, about
try of Gender, Children and Social 7,000 inmates
Protection (MoGCSP) launched in Furthermore, the NHIA boss en-
2015 a program to register all pris- sured the accreditation of the out of a
on inmates across the country un- Nsawam Prisons infirmary to en- total of
der the National Health Insurance able them submit claims to the
Scheme. This will go a long way to NHIA to bolster their Internally about 15,000
improve access to healthcare for in-
mates and reduce the health costs
Generated Fund (IGF) sources, in
addition to the relief of providing
have been
for the Ghana Prisons Service. So inmates NHIS cards for free. registered.
far about 7,000 inmates out of a
136
Also as part of the Government’s try in various prisons such as in
Government efforts, Government has voted Nsawam and Wa. It also set up ICT
has voted money to build what will be Gha- centres in almost all the Central
money to na’s only remand prison. Prisons.
build what It is notable that before the launch

will be of Project Efiase, the government
was already supporting prisons in
Ghana’s only various areas such as ICT and edu-
remand prison cation. An example is the construc-
tions of kindergarten, primary and
a JSS complex’s around the coun-
137
2.3.2 HER EXCELLENCY Mahama on the 9th of March, 2016 First sitting
LORDINA MAHAMA paid a historic visit to the Nsawam First Lady to
The First Lady of the Republic of Female Prison. She is the first sit-
Ghana, Her Excellency, Lordina ting First Lady to embark on such
embark on visit
to Prison
138
First Lady
LORDINA MAHAMA
inspecting
GUARD OF HONOUR
Thank you
a visit and also the first to officially worth thousands of Ghana Cedis
Lordina donate to Project Efiase. to the prison.
Foundation for
The purpose of her visit was to do- She donated these items to the
remembering nate medical equipment, assorted Nsawam Medium Security Prison.
Ghana’s Inmates pharmaceuticals and food items
and Officers
139
Donations from
FIRST
LADY
H.L. Lordina
Mahama
140
On the 9th of March,
2016 the first lady paid
a historic visit to the
Nsawam Female Prison.
She donated items to

the Nsawam Medium
Security Prison.
141
142
THE PRISONS COUNCIL
AND THE GPS SAYS
THANK YOU
143
Addressing
PRISONERS
H.L. THEODORA
WOODE
144
JUDGES and
MAGISTRATES donate
from their
PERSONAL
RESOURCES
to Prisons
2.3.3 CHIEF JUSTICE AND The spokesperson for the Judges

Judges and ASSOCIATION OF JUDGES explained that though their con-
magistrates AND MAGISTRATES
On January 8, 2016, the Chief Jus-
stitutional functions may require
them to commit persons guilty of
donate from tice of Ghana, the International crimes to prisons, they still cared
Association of Women Judges about prisoners and were donating
their (IAWJ) Ghana Chapter, and the these items as part of their social
personal Association of Magistrates and
Judges (AMJG) donated soap and
functions.
resources to toothpaste to the Nsawam Medi- DISTIBUTION

um Security Prison. They promised • Nsawam Medium Security
prisons to make similar donations to other Prisons
prisons.
145
Prisons Council Chairman Rev. Dr. Stephen Wengam and Hon. Nana
Oye Lithur, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection
NHIS
registration of
INMATES
After the courtesy call on the Pres- tional Health Insurance Scheme.
ident and during the President’s This will go a long way to improve
visit to Nsawam Prison, seeing access to healthcare for inmates
the health burden of inmates first and reduce the health costs for the
hand, he instructed that inmates Ghana Prisons Service. Further-
be added to the National Health more, the NHIA boss ensured the
Insurance Scheme. Since then, the accreditation of the Nsawam Pris-
National Health Insurance Author- ons infirmary to enable them sub-
ity (NHIA) and the Ministry of mit claims to the NHIA to bolster
Gender, Children and Social Pro- their Internally Generated Fund
tection (MoGCSP) launched a pro- (IGF) sources, in addition to the
gram to register all prison inmates relief of providing inmates NHIS
across the country under the Na- cards for free.
146
147
Chairman Wengam,
members of the Prisons
directorate and other
officers at
US GOVERNMENT
sponsored training in
COLORADO, USA
148
• The first and second batch

were sent to Colorado USA.
• The third batch were

trained at the West Africa
Regional Training Center
in Accra with facilitators
flown inform the USA—for
an Offender
from April 11-15, 2016.
• The fourth batch was sent

to Virginia, USA.
149
OFFEN
CLASSIFI
WORKS
2.3.4 U.S. GOVERNMENT cials delegated by the Embassy to

The 6th Prisons Council paid cour- assist the Ghana Prisons Service.
tesy calls on Ambassador Gene Al-
lan Cretz, the former Ambassador The U.S. Government sent correc-
of the U.S. Government in Ghana. tions experts to do a needs assess-
It has also paid another call on Am- ment of the Ghana Prisons Service
bassador Cretz’s successor, Ambas- so they can better assist Project
sador Robert Porter Jackson. It has Efiase and the 10-Year Strategic
also held other meetings with offi- Development Plan of the Ghana
150
NDER
ICATION
SHOP
Prisons Service. After the assess- CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION

ment, the U.S. Government has MANAGEMENT TRAINING
committed to assisting the Ghana This has been carried out success-
Prisons Service via Project Efiase fully in Colorado USA.
as noted in a Diplomatic note sent
to the Ghana’s foreign ministry. Training and technical assistance
The U.S. Government is willing to development and implementation
help Ghana build its corrections ca- of an objective based PRISONER
pabilities through the provision of: CLASSIFICATION SYSTEM. This
151
has also been successfully carried
out in part at the West African Re-
gional Training Center with facili-
tators/instructors flown in from
the U.S. Department of State’s
Bureau of International Narcot-
ics and Law Enforcement Affairs,
Maryland Department of Correc-
tions and the Colorado Depart-
ment of Corrections.
Another set of officers have recent-

ly completed a training exercise in
Virginia, USA.
The U.S. Government has further

committed to supporting the re-
forms in the Ghana Prisons sec-
tor with the provision of scanners,
jammers, metal detectors etc. It
will also help with the develop-
ment of vocational trades pro-
grams in selected prisons, provi-
sion of restrain equipment and
hopefully the provision of vehicles
for prisoner transfers. In short, the
dividends of Project Efiase in the
engagements of the 6th Prisons
Council with the U.S. Government
will inure to the development of
Ghana’s prisons system.
OFFENDER
CLASSIFICATION
WORKSHOP
152
• The first and second batch-

es were sent to Colorado
USA.
• The third batch were

trained at the West Africa
Regional Training Center
in Accra with facilitators
flown inform the USA—for
an Offender
from April 11-15, 2016.
• The fourth batch was sent

to Virginia, USA.
153
154
OFFENDER
CLASSIFICATION
WORKSHOP
155
OFFENDER
CLASSIFICATION
WORKSHOP
156
157
2.3.5 EMBASSY OF THE DISTRIBUTION: SEWING MACHINES
PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF CHINA The sewing machines are still at the stores await-
The Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in ing distribution.
the Republic of Ghana donated to Project Efiase:
2.3.6 HIS EMINENCE ARCHBISHOP
• Ten (10) computers and accessories DUNCAN-WILLIAMS
• Ten (10) sewing machines The General Overseer of Christian Action Faith
Ministries, His Eminence Archbishop Duncan-
DISTRIBUTION: COMPUTERS Williams donated to Project Efiase to be given to
1. Nsawam Court 2 inmates:
2. Manhyia Local 1 • Two (2) Large Cows
3. Regional Commander, Ho 1 • One (100) Hundred Bags of Rice
4. Regional Commander, Wa 1 • One(100) Hundred Gallons of Cooking Oil
5. Regional Commander, Navrongo 1
6. Regional Commander, Tamale 1
7. Regional Commander, Secondi 1
8. Ankaful Maximum, Central 1
9. Service Council Secretariat 1
Donations from
ACTION
CHAPEL
158
THANK YOU
EPP
BOOKSHOP
FOR SUPPORTING
PROJECT EFIASE and
PRISONS REFORMS
2.3.7 EPP BOOKSHOP

The management of EPP Bookshop
donated to Project Efiase:
• Five (5) Flat Screen Hasee
Computers
• Five (5) laptop computers
• Five (5) sets of Encyclopedia
Britannica
159
DISTRIBUTION: FIVE (5) FLAT SCREEN
HASEE COMPUTERS
1. Director General’s Office 1
2. Director General’s Secretariat 1
3. Chief Legal Officer’s Office 1
4. ICT Office 1
5. Council Secretariat 1
DISTRIBUTION: LAPTOP COMPUTERS

1. Regional Commander, Greater Accra 1
2. Regional Commander, Ashanti Region 1
3. Regional Commander, B/A Region 1
4. Regional Commander, Eastern Region 1
5. Stationary Stores 1
6. Nsawam Prisons High Court 2
2.3.8 3M & C HEALTH SERVICES

3M & C Health Services donated medical
equipment and drugs to Project Efiase
DISTRIBUTION: Medical Equipment

& Drugs
These were shared amongst the following: 9:45am and concluded at 4:30pm by which
1. Nsawam medium security prisons time 341 documented inmates/patients had
2. Nsawam female been seen, their ailments diagnosed and most
3. Kumasi central given drugs as well as walking and seeing aids.
4. Kumasi female Some of the leftover medical supplies were
5. Manhyia local left at Nsawam Prison.
2.3.9 MALKU FOUNDATION 2.3.10 MADAM AMA AMANKWA

The Malku Foundation via the Chairman of the Madam Ama Amankwa donated soap,
Project Efiase Planning Committee brought to- detergents and toilet paper to Project Efiase
gether local doctors, medical students and nurs-
es to attend to the health needs of inmates at DISTRIBUTION
the Nsawam Prison. The team of 30 was divided • Gambaga
into 4 stations—3 consultation stations and • Tamale female
1 dispensary. The mission started round about
160
3 M&C HEALTH
SUPPLIES
donation to
Project Efiase
NHIS
donation to
Project Efiase
161
2.3.11 OSOMPA FOUNDATION 2.4 Public Private Partnerships
The Osompa Foundation donated (PPPs)
assorted used clothing to Project As noted under the section of the
Efiase. report covering “Performance / Year
in Review”, the only way to judge
DISTRIBUTION whether Project Efiase has been
• James Camp Prison successful or not is to see if the
three (main) things it set out to do
2.3.12 DANIEL AMOATENG has been accomplished.
FOUNDATION
The Daniel Amoateng Founda- These three (3) are:
tion donated assorted food items 1. Advocacy and Sensitiza-
and toiletries to Project Efiase. tion aimed at changing per-
They also donated an amount of ceptions towards the correc-
GH¢2,000 tions sector and the Ghana
Prisons Service as a whole—
DISTRIBUTION both locally and within the
The Senior Correctional international community
Centre 2. Fundraising to support the
implementation of the 10-
162
An example of PPP:
Predating Project
Efiase, One storey
boys dormitory
being constructed
at Ordorgornor
Senior High School
Promotion of Public Private by the Ghana
Partnership Agreements Prisons Service
(PPPAs) between private as
well as public entities and
the Ghana Prisons Service—
aimed at meeting the needs
of the Service that the Service
by itself cannot meet.
Since the launch of Project Efiase

one (1) year ago, quite a number
of companies have approached the
Ghana Prisons Service with the in-
tention to partner with this public
institution.
These proposals will be worked on

by the Service and they will revert
to the Council for approval.
163
164
PROJECT EFIASE
LOOKING
FORWARD
Progress is impossible without
change, and those who cannot change
their minds cannot change
anything—George Bernard Shaw
KITIWA BIA NSUA
165
PART 3
Looking Forward
166
It may be hard for an egg to turn into a bird: it would be a
jolly sight harder for it to learn to fly while remaining an
egg. We are like eggs at present. And you cannot go on
indefinitely being just an ordinary, decent egg.
We must be hatched or go bad
—C. S. Lewis
Looking back, much has been ac- has been working overtime to get
complished within the past one officers opportunities both locally
(1) year and the 6th Council is and internationally to improve
confident that much more can be their capacity. Council secured five
accomplished in the future. The (5) capacity building workshops
Council believes it’s time for the from the US and Malysian govern-
The Prisons Service to fly but to do so,
there much be a hatching. Hatch-
ments--four (4) foreign and one
(1) conducted locally.
Council ing may not be easy or sweet but
it is needful. That requires change Funds from Project Efiase accounts
believes and change is not always comfort-

able but needful for progress and
were also used to organize two (2)
capacity building workshops for of-
survival.
it’s time
ficers.
For the Prisons Service to go to LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP FOR

for the the next level, the Council has ef-
fected and will effect some changes
OFFICERS
One Hundred and Fifty officers
Prisons in its endeavor to make the Ghana

Prisons Service a model in Africa
selected from prison establish-
ments across the country attended
Service in modern prisons management.

Some of these are listed below.
a workshop on leadership at The
Church of Pentecost Convention
Centre, Gomoa Fetteh from 16th
to fly 3.1 Capacity Building
Capacity building has been noted
to 20th December, 2015. This was
fully sponsored by Project Efiase.
in the 10 Year Strategy Develop- Resource persons include Prof.
ment Plan as one of the main areas Stephen Adei, former Rector of
of concern for the Ghana Prisons GIMPA, Mr. Samuel Atta Mensah,
Service. As a result, the Council MD Citi FM, and others.
167
The second capacity building work- Governance for seventy (70) of-
shop on good corporate governace ficers selected from around the
during the first quarter of 2016 had country. Once again as part of this
as resource persons, Mr. Mamuda workshop, time was allotted for
Seidu and Dr. Haizel amongst oth- discussions on the 10 Year Strate-
ers. gic Development Plan and Project
Efiase.
Workshop on Corporate
Governance The venue was the Prisons Head-
The 6th Prisons Council also or- quarters. All of this notwithstand-
ganized a workshop on Corporate ing, the Council believes it can do
168
more as its advocacy starts to yield general population. It is therefore
fruit. It plans to keep pushing for in Ghana’s best interest to have a
the upgrading of the capacity of healthy inmate and officer popula-
the Prisons officers. tion. With the current conditions
in Ghana’s prisons, if Ebola for in-
3.2 Health Directorate stance found its way there, there is
Prison officers have a risky job. not telling how far it could impact
They are many more times prone the general population at large.
to contracting all sorts of diseases There is also a lack of reliable pris-
from inmates cramped into small on health data. Owing to all the
spaces and passing them on to above reasons, the Council has de-
their families and ultimately the cided it is time to have a director-
169
ate to manage prison health.
The Council plans to establish a

new directorate that will take spe-
cific care of the health needs of
inmates, officers and their depen-
dents and any persons who may
use the services of the proposed
prisons hospital.
3.3 Prisons Hospital

The Council has noted with great
concern the poor health of in-
mates and attendant challenges
this causes. “Sister security agen-
cies who do not have a huge in-
mate population in addition to
their staff numbers like the Po-
lice Service and the Armed Forces
have hospitals built by govern-
ment for them that takes care of
the needs of mainly two groups:
• Officers and their

dependents
• The Public
The Ghana Prisons Service does

not have a hospital. What it has
are some poorly equipped small
infirmaries. This means that
when inmates or officers and
their dependents fall seriously ill,
they must be transported to oth-
er public hospitals.
Of all the sister security agencies,

only the prisons service has to
take care of the health needs of
a huge population of vulnerable
peoples—namely the inmates
and remand prisoners. If it had a
hospital, it would take care of:
• Convicted prisoners
• Remand prisoners
170
Historic visit of
PRESIDENT MAHAMA
TO NSAWAM PRISON
171
PRESIDENT
inspecting
Prison Industry
172
• Officers and their depen-
dents
• The Public
The advantages to having one or

more prisons hospitals are many
and include:
• Better access to health care
for the above mentioned
• Internally Generated Funds
as a result of the public
using these facilities
• Facilitate efficient transfer
to other facilities for vital
services not offered in
infirmaries
• Meeting international
health standards for
corrections systems
• Reduction of health bills
that currently burden the
Service
• Provision of ready health
data or analysis of prison
population
• During strikes by health
professionals, the prisons
hospitals would augment
the strength of hospitals of
other sister security
agencies.
The plans for a medium sized clinic

is ready and the Council is seeking
for investors.
3.4 Health Needs Assessment

A Health Needs Assessment to as-
certain the health needs of Ghana’s
prison population is vital to tack-
ling prison health systematically.
As such, the Council has set up a
sub-committee to do this assess-
ment with the help of officers and
173
174
some research assistants. Other The Council will keep doing advo-
members of this sub-committee cacy for the Service.
are council member representing
the Ghana Medical Association Dr. 3.7 Regional Project Efiase
“Project Kwabena Opoku-Adusei, Professor

Paolo Galizzi of the Leitner Center
Launches
The Council plans to undertake
for International Law and Justice, Project Efiase launches in specific
Efiase Fordham Law School in New York,
and council member Solomon Ap-
regions—subject to willingness
and preparedness of regional sta-
aims to piah. Another reason why this

assessment is important is that
tions. The idea is to replicate what
was done in Accra in the regions.
without a needs assessment, it is To this end, the Council has already
address practically impossible to secure any
sizable assistance for the Service in
initiated
the the area of health. The assessment

will assist with advocacy and hope-
3.8 Logistics
Though under the leadership of
fully support for the implementa- the 6th Council, there has been a
myriad tion of the health aspects of the
10-Year Plan.
marked improvement in logistical
situation of the Service, specifical-
of 3.5 Project Efiase Shop/

ly in the area of vehicles, the Coun-
cil plans to work harder to secure
inter-
Showroom further support in this area.
The Council is looking for inves-
tors to partner with the Service 3.9 Promotions
linked to establish a permanent struc-
ture from which items produced
As per the 1992 Constitution of
the Republic of Ghana, and subject
challenges in Ghana’s prisons can be seen and

bought. Such a showroom has the
to the provisions of this Constitu-
tion, the power to appoint persons
potential to increase patronage of to hold or to act in an office in the
confront- products from prisons industries. Prisons Service shall vest in the
President, acting in accordance
ing the 3.6 Advocacy

The Council has done much by way
with the advice of the Prisons Ser-
vice Council.
of advocacy in an effort to create a
Ghana positive change in perception to-
wards the Ghana Prisons Services
The constitution adds that the
Prisons Service Council shall ad-
Prisons in the hopes that this will unlock

the other two reasons for which
vise the President on matters of
policy relating to the promotion of
project Efiase was launched name- officers above the rank of Assistant
Service” ly, increased financial support and
donations, and increased Public
Director of Prisons.
Private Partnerships with the ser- Bearing the above in mind and
vice. considering various factors, the
175
Council has seen it fit to introduce
a merit based promotions system.
This affects officers above the rank
of Assistant Director of Prisons.
The former promotions policy pro-

moted staff—not based on a sys-
tematic merit system but rather
based on a system of number-
ing—much like first to come into
the Service, first to be promoted.
This is not beneficial to the ser-
vice in the long run so the Council
has adopted the use of interviews
structured to take into account
various skills, knowledge and abili-
ties needed to meet tasks, duties
and management responsibilities
of senior officers.
The interview committee is com-

prised of an officer from the Public
Services Commission, the Director
General of Prisons or their repre-
sentative, and other Members of
the Prisons Council. Each member
of the interview committee scores
interviewees independently and
submits their tally sheets (with-
out sharing them with each other)
to an independent actor who tal-
lies the marks and averages them.
There is no room for collusion,
nepotism or cronyism.
3.10 Prisons Week

The Council and eventually reviv-
ing the Prison Week which once
upon a time was functional.
3.11 IGF Generation

The Council envisions a day when
the Service is self-funding and yet
able to contribute to government
revenues.
176
PROJECT EFIASE
CHALLENGES
Our dilemma is that we hate change and
love it at the same time; what we really
want is for things to remain the same
but get better.
—Sydney J. Harris
KITIWA BIA NSUA
177
PART 4
CHALLENGES
178
Our dilemma is that we hate change and love it at the
same time; what we really want is for things to remain the
same but get better.
—Sydney J. Harris
The 6th Prisons Council has built With regards to fundraising ef-
upon reform efforts of past Councils forts, the Council has encountered
The and past prisons directorates. It has difficulties in securing and activat-
Council is also initiated new reforms of its own.
The dilemma facing reform is that it
ing an SMS short code attached to
a Project Efiase wallet for the re-
determined is hated and loved at the same time. ceipt of donations.
to leave the Any person who has managed any Thankfully the National Commu-
Ghana mid-sized firm would tell you that Mr.
Harris is right. Any true reformatory
nications Authority has recently
granted Project Efiase the short-
Prisons agenda worth its salt will face some code 9050. Texting PE to this code
Service in a resistance. Thankfully there have
been more who have encouraged and
will donate GHc1 in the Project
Efiase Wallet. For now, this is only
better state supported the ongoing reforms than for MTN but the Council is work-
those who may love the status quo.
than it met it. The Council is determined to leave
ing on getting it operational for all
networks.
the Ghana Prisons Service in a better
state than it met it.
179
180
PROJECT EFIASE
CONCLUDING
NOTE
Crime is much like a
contagious disease.
If untreated via classification,
reformation and rehabilitation, it can
affect others and wipe out whole
populations
KITIWA BIA NSUA
181
Courtesy call on
MINISTER OF
FINANCE
and ECONOMIC PLANNING
PART 5
Concluding Note from Chairman of Project
Efiase Planning Committee
—Solomon Appiah
182
In every nation, its system of incarceration and whether
that system is able to reform those committed to its
custody or not is critical to national development.
Development does not occur out of a vacuum.
It occurs on the foundation of peace and stability
and the Prisons Service is critical to the
maintenance of public safety in Ghana.
Under the visionary and sterling Advocacy is such that its full
leadership of Rev. Dr. Stephen effects can only be seen over a
Yenusom Wengam, the 6th Prisons period of time much like a policy
Council through much advocacy gestation period—the time it
has been able to lift the Service takes between the conception of
from where it was and place it on an idea and its realization in terms
the national agenda. The degree of of policy decision. Nonetheless,
compulsion or promotion of Project the Council has realized practical
Efiase within less than a year of its results from its advocacy efforts. A
launch has been phenomenal. few examples include:
• a consignment of seventy-
Prisons is now a hot topic and center seven (77) vehicles released
of policy debate. The advocacy of by the Government to the
the Council has drawn the minds of Ghana Prisons Service
corporate, religious, non-government • the registration of inmates
bodies to the plight of Ghana’s unto the National Health
prisons and the consequential impact Insurance Scheme
on public safety and Ghana’s long • the release of funds for the
term development. construction of what will be
Ghana’s sole remand block
SCORECARD
The Council set out to do the above All of the aforementioned
with respect to the implementation resulted from the historic visit
of Project Efiase and as can be of the President of the Republic
attested to through this pictorial to the Nsawam Medium Security
annual report, it can be said that it Prisons in the company of the
has been quite successful. Finance Minister. The visit was
orchestrated at the instance of
183
184
the Prisons Council. When the as capturing Project Efiase in • INCAPACITATION is
Council paid a courtesy call on the Mid-Year budget review— “the concept that putting
the Ministry of Finance and making a passionate plea to an offender in a secure
Economic Planning, the Deputy Parliament to support Project facility prevents him/
Minister publicly described the Efiase. her from victimizing the
President’s visit to Nsawam public again”.
as the GAME CHANGER for PRIORITIZING REFORMA-
the Prisons Service. It was TION AND REHABILITATION • DETERRENCE refers to
during this visit that H.E. John In spite of the appreciable “the concept that knowing
Mahama asked that inmates be success so far, there is still that someone else was
added to the NHIS and also that room for improvement. There punished for a crime will
a new remand prison be built to needs to be a further shift in the make another person less
lessen the burden on existing minds of the general populace likely to commit the same
prisons infrastructure. Prior as to the core function of the crime”.
to this, during the Council’s Ghana Prisons Service. Ghana’s
courtesy call on the President prisons are not necessarily filled • RETRIBUTION is the
where the Council drew the with only bad people. At present “concept that an offender
attention of the President to it also takes custody of persons who serves time is paying
the poor vehicular situation of awaiting trial. Even if prisons society back for the harm
the Service, the government were filled with only bad people, done in the crime”.
promised to give the Service the onus rests upon society to
cars. In each of these instances, treat (reform and rehabilitate) Funding incapacitation,
the government honoured its them if possible. For this to deterrence and retribution
promise. happen, the Service needs to be is cheaper than funding
equipped. reformation and rehabilitation
Other dividends of the advocacy in the short run but much more
drive (as already highlighted in Just a cursory look at the law expensive in the long run when
this report) include donations governing the Service reveals one considers the consequences
in cash and kind to prisons, that the core functions of the of an absence of reformatory
training opportunities given Service was not reformation and focus.
by the local and international rehabilitation but rather taking
community etc. Within a year safe custody of inmates and Reformation and rehabilitation
both the President of the looking out for their welfare. includes but is not limited
Republic and the First Lady For this reason, governments to “the concept of providing
as well as the Chief Justice, since Ghana’s independence treatment (such as addiction
Attorney General and Finance have not funded reformation treatment) and programs (such
Minister visited prison and and rehabilitation but rather as education and job skills
determined to make conditions incapacitation, deterrence and training) to boost the likelihood
better than it currently is. The retribution. that an inmate will not return to
finance Minister went as far crime when he or she is released
185
back to the community”. policies, and on the care and prisons populations, the effect
Rehabilitation has the highest treatment made available of increased police presence can
usefulness to society and it is to vulnerable groups in the negatively impact on dwindling
also the most expensive of all community. Reform of the spaces to house inmates
the reasons why we incarcerate. prison system should therefore committed to their custody by
But the Ghanaian society in always take into account the the Courts.
general has to ask itself whether needs relating to the reform of
it wants to continue running the criminal justice system as a Not only are most of Ghana’s
a prison system that only whole and employ an integrated, prisons non-purpose built (not
warehouses inmates providing multi-disciplinary strategy to built with reformatory and
a conducive environment for achieve sustainable impact. rehabilitation facilities) because
the transfer of criminal skills, Thus, reform initiatives will they were set up at a time when
knowledge and capabilities or usually need to also encompass rehabilitation was not a core
whether it would like to fund criminal justice institutions function of the Service, but the
a system where inmates upon other than the prison service, nation has closed down quite a
their release from prison do not such as the judiciary prosecution number of prisons effectively
become instruments of terror and police service, as relevant. reducing the spaces available
to the general populace but —UNODC Website for holding inmates. Some of
rather people who contribute to our decommissioned prisons
national development. There are many solitary include:
initiatives taking place within • Anomabu Castle (formerly
Case in point, for the first time in Ghana’s criminal justice system Fort William, a state
our history as a nation, a former to improve the system but it prison till 2001)
inmate has had the audacity to looks like many of these well- • Cape Coast Castle
murder with impunity a sitting meaning initiatives do not factor • Usher Fort Prison
member of parliament in his in the improvement of arguably • James Fort Prison
home. What next? the most important actor in • Keta Fort (Fort
this system—to whome courts Prinzenstein)
THE NEED FOR HARMONY IN commit convicted persons.
CRIMINAL JUSTIC SYSTEM Some of these have been
It is of utmost importance that As noted by the Acting Director transformed into income
prison reform is not regarded in General, Ghana has steadily generating tourist centers.
isolation from broader criminal been increasing police stations If inmates are cramped into
justice reform. UNODC believes around the country to maintain small living spaces because of
that effective prison reform is security. However the same lack of space and not reformed
dependent on the improvement cannot be said for prisons or rehabilitated, these same
and rationalisation of criminal infrastructure. And since there inmates upon release will make
justice policies, including crime are no alternative sentencing Ghana unsafe for tourists
prevention and sentencing policies implemented to reduce and these income generating
ventures.
186
187
Donation of medical
equipment, toiletries and
drugs from
MALKU
FOUNDATION
via Chairman of
Project Efiase planning
committee.
MALKU foundation
brought along
Doctors, Nurses and
other Medical
Personnel to cater to the
needs of inmates
188
An aged inmate
receives
MEDICAL CARE
189
Donation of medical
equipment, toiletries and
drugs from
MALKU
FOUNDATION
via Chairman of
Project Efiase planning
committee.
MALKU foundation
brought along
Doctors, Nurses and
other Medical
Personnel to cater to the
needs of inmates
190
An aged inmate
receives a
FREE NEW PAIR
OF SPECTACLES
for his failing sight
An inmate
receives a
FREE NEW PAIR
OF CRUTCHES
191
Visit to the
SPEAKER
of Parliament
192
PROJECT EFIASE
ACKNOWLEDGE-
MENTS
Crime is much like a
contagious disease.
KITIWA BIA NSUA
193
PART 6
Acknowledgements
194
The 6th Prisons Council could not do its work without the
support of many actors within the political sphere of its
operations.
Special thanks to ALL who have supported Project Efiase

from the Ghana Prisons Service & its Council.
You are contributing to a safer Ghana
The Council
would like The 6th Prisons Council could not facility. It is also grateful for all
to extend do its work without the support that is yet to come.
of many actors within the political
its warmest sphere of its operations. The Council commends the Chief
appreciation The Council would like to extend
Justice for her unprecedented
support. The 6th Prisons Council
and thanks its warmest appreciation and would also like to thank the former
to His thanks to His Excellency the
President of the Republic of
and current Ministers of the
Interior who have been of immense
Excellency Ghana, John Dramani Mahama assistance to the Council and
for his unflinching support to both its reform efforts in the persons
the the Council and its activities. It of Hon. Mark Owen Woyongo
President is an honour to serve under your
leadership.
and Hon. Prosper Douglas Bani
respectively. If the Council has
of the been able to accomplish anything,
Republic The Council is thankful for the
audience it was granted to pay a
it is as a result of the assistance of
these men.
of Ghana, courtesy call on His Excellency the
John President at the Flagstaff House.
The Council is thankful for the
The Council would like to thank the
Deputy Minister of the Interior,
Dramani Presidents seminal visit to the Hon. James Agalaga and the Chief
Nsawam Medium Security Prison. Director, Mrs. Adelaide Anno-
Mahama It is also thankful for the allocation Kumi for all their support.
for his of seventy-seven (77) vehicles to
the Service as well as the allocation The Council would like to extend its
unflinching of funds for the construction of thanks to former Director General
support what will be Ghana’s only remand of Prisons Ms. Matilda Baffuor
195
Awuah and her directorate. The
Council also acknowledges the
work of the present directorate
headed by the Acting Director
General of Prisons Mr. Emmanuel
Yao Adjator and all the support
they continue to give to the
Council in the carrying out of its
constitutional mandate.
The Council also thanks the prisons

officers who give their lives daily
for mother Ghana within what
can be described as deplorable
conditions of service which the
Council is working on improving.
The Council is also grateful to

Online and Print media houses,
radio and TV stations—all of
whom have given selflessly towards
Project Efiase. The Council thanks
all individuals, religious bodies
and organizations who have either
granted courtesy calls, paid their
monitary pledges or donated in
kind towards Project Efiase.
Of special mention are members

of the diplomatic corps who have
assisted or plan to assist Project
Efiase. Of special mention in
this category is the Deputy Chief
of Political Affairs at the US
Embassy, Mr. Navarro Moore who
has facilitated four (4) capacity
building seminars locally and
internationally for the Ghana
Prisons Service.
Worthy of special mention is the

CEO of Innolink Ltd. who has
personally sponsored all Project
Efiase publications including this
one. Rev. John Darku, AYEEKOO!!!
196
CHAIRMAN
of Prisons Council
greets the
H.L. CHIEF JUSTICE
197
Tweet from
John Dramani Mahama
(@JDMahama) on 5 Jul 2015:
Sincere thanks to the Prisons Council
for my historic visit to the Nsawam Prison.
Together we’ll
improve our prisons.
– JM
198
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ANNUAL REPORT 2015 77

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Ghana Prisons Service Project Efiase Annual Report

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PROJECT EFI SE

Kitiwa Bia Nsua

ANNUAL REPORT TO STAKEHOLDERS

1ST PROJECT EFIASE—ANNUAL REPORT TO STAKEHOLDERS

© Prisons Service Council 2016

Design and layout: Innolink Ltd

There shall be established a Prisons Service Council which shall consist of –

a) the Vice-President, who shall be chairman;

Rev. Dr. Stephen Yenusom Wengam is the

He is the Lead Pastor of Cedar Mountain

Rev. Wengam is also the West Africa

He is the immediate Past Director of

He holds BSc Administration (Marketing

REV. DR. STEPHEN YENUSOM awarded an Honorary Doctor of Divinity by the

Rev. Wengam seeks to involve all critical

He holds a postgraduate certificate in Human

Command positions and staff appointments

MR. EMMANUEL YAO

The following are medals that have been

Mr. Samuel Amankwah is the Director

Mr. Amankwah represents the Hon. Minister

Mr. Amankwah is working to ensure that

Dr. Kwabena Opoku-Adusei is an

He is a product of Kwame Nkrumah

Dr. Adusei seeks to support the Service with

In doing this, he hopes to assist to upgrade

Mr. Kwasi Amoako Adjei is a barrister and

Mr. Kwasi Amoako Adjei is the founder and

He seeks to promote reforms in the

MR. KWASI AMOAKO

Hon. Dr. Dominic Ayine is currently the

Dr. Ayine holds a Bachelors of Laws (LLB)

Since April 2000, he has held a teaching

Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong is the

He holds a Diploma in Theology and

He has served on multiple boards and is a

He is also an adjunct lecturer at the Trinity

REV. DR. KWABENA

Mr. Ansah represents Senior Officers

He is a Social Worker and holds a Master of

She holds Bachelor of Arts degree in

SCO Caroline Kabah seeks to promote

MS. CAROLINE BANIBATITI

Daasebre Kwebu Ewusi VII is the

He holds Master of Arts in Governance

Nana seeks to lobby chiefs to

Nana Baffour Okumanin is the

Nana is the Chief Development Officer at All

Nana is a retired army officer and holds

He earned a BSc Honours Degree from the

He has also studied environmental

1.1 Functions of Ghana Prisons Service 8

1.2 The Need for Project Efiase 10

1.2.2 LACK OF FUNDS 12

1.2.6 HIGHER LEARNING INSTITUTIONS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR 16

1.2.7 INADEQUATE WORKSHOPS AND TOOLS FOR SKILLS DEVELOPMENT 18

1.2.8 LACK OF CAPITAL 20

1.2.9 LACK OF OPERATIONAL AND ADMINISTRATIONAL VEHICLES 20

1.2.10 LACK OF ACCOMMODATION AND OFFICE SPACE 20

1.2.11 LACK OF CAPITAL AND LOW PATRONAGE OF INMATES’ PRODUCTS 23

1.3 Latent Potential 23

1.4 Prison Workshops Available 23

Performance / Year in Review 58

2.1 Advocacy and Sensitization 60

Prisons Service Act - 1972