Accra: Mrs Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, has appealed to the public to support efforts to improve conditions in the country’s prisons. Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie suggested that a small monthly contribution from citizens could make a big difference in the prison service.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie made this appeal while speaking at the Ghana Women Awards 2025 ceremony in Accra, where she received the Lifetime Achievement Award for her leadership. She announced the launch of a sponsorship initiative, the ‘Prisons Sustainability Support System,’ aimed at tackling long-standing challenges in the correctional system.
Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie stated, “In the days ahead, we will come to your doorsteps. We have come up with a Prisons Sustainability Support System, and by our calculations, we are not asking for much. All we are saying is that if half of the population of this country gives us a cedi a month, we will get not less than ten million cedis and can make the conditions of our prisons better.”
As the first woman to lead the Ghana Prisons Service, Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie envisions a modernized, humane, and accountable prison system. Her goal is to enhance the welfare of officers, staff, and inmates. The Ghana Prisons Service is integral to the criminal justice system, focusing on the safe custody, reformation, and rehabilitation of convicted persons. However, challenges such as inadequate funding, overcrowding, and limited social support hinder its operations.
The appeal for citizen involvement aims to foster shared responsibility in maintaining an effective correctional system that contributes to national security and development. Mr. Samuel Afriyie Owusu, Head of Research and Communication for the Ghana Women Awards, praised Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie for her dedication and professionalism. He noted her previous accolade as the Outstanding Female Prisons Service Personnel Award in 2013.
Mr. Owusu also congratulated Deputy Director of Prisons (Mrs.) Millicent Owusu, Director of Welfare at the Ghana Prisons Service, for winning this year’s Outstanding Female Prisons Service Personnel award. The Ghana Women Awards recognizes the achievements of women who have excelled in various sectors and contributed to national development.