Vice President Reviews Graduation Parade of Officer Cadet Intake 32; Government Announces Key Reforms to Strengthen Prisons Service

The Vice President, Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, on Friday served as the Reviewing Officer at the Graduation Parade of Officer Cadet Course Intake 32 at the Prisons Officers Training School. She was accompanied by the Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, and hosted by the Director-General of Prisons, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, together with the leadership of the Ghana Prisons Service.

In her address, the Vice President reaffirmed Government’s commitment to building a stronger and more efficient Prisons Service. According to her, the commissioning of a new batch of officer cadets signals the State’s readiness to provide the Service with the necessary personnel and resources to fully execute its mandate.

She highlighted several recent policy interventions, including the increase in daily feeding allocation for inmates from GH₵1.80 to GH₵5.00, describing it as a crucial step toward ensuring the dignity and humane treatment of all persons in custody.

Prof. Opoku-Agyemang also referenced President John Dramani Mahama’s recent amnesty granted to 998 inmates, noting that it reflects the administration’s belief in second chances and its resolve to decongest overcrowded facilities to enhance rehabilitation.

As part of the Government’s “reset agenda,” she announced progress on the Think 360 Degrees Prisons Initiative, a reform programme designed to fuse humanitarian principles with development-driven strategies. The initiative prioritizes officer and inmate welfare, agricultural modernization, vocational and industrial training, as well as transforming prison facilities into contributors to national development through job creation and revenue generation.

The Vice President encouraged individuals and institutions to support the Service’s fundraising efforts, emphasizing that contributions have the potential to meaningfully impact rehabilitation and reintegration outcomes.

She commended the Director-General for her “exemplary leadership and professionalism” in driving reforms and praised the Prisons Regimental Band for their impressive parade performance. She also charged the newly commissioned officers to uphold the highest standards of integrity, discipline, and commitment.

The event concluded with the official commissioning of Officer Cadet Intake 32 into the senior corps of the Ghana Prisons Service, with congratulatory messages extended to all outstanding awardees and graduates.