Accra:Interior Minister Mubarak Mohammed Muntaka is urging ministers, Members of Parliament, and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives in Ghana to visit prisons to better understand the conditions under which inmates live. Muntaka believes these visits are crucial for making informed decisions that affect the Ghana Prisons Service.
According to Ghana Web, Muntaka addressed Parliament's Public Accounts Committee, explaining that his visits to six prisons had changed his perspective on the challenges faced by the service. He emphasized the importance of public officials witnessing these conditions firsthand to support rehabilitation efforts effectively. Muntaka appeared before the committee with the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service to discuss issues highlighted in the Attorney-General's Report.
The Interior Minister also called on public institutions and companies to allocate more of their corporate social responsibility resources towards prison rehabilitation. Muntaka suggested that at least five percent of CSR spending could be directed to this cause. He pointed out that some progress had been made with donations of vehicles to support prison operations but acknowledged the challenge in securing consistent corporate support.
Funding constraints have impacted the Prisons Service's ability to assess and rehabilitate inmates effectively. The service explained the need for admission and discharge boards to evaluate inmates' circumstances and prepare them for reintegration into society. However, a lack of dedicated funding for these processes has been a significant barrier.
Muntaka emphasized the need for structured partnerships with churches, religious groups, and corporate entities to address these challenges comprehensively. He highlighted a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Education to expand productive activities within the prison system, advocating for sustained investment in rehabilitation programs.