Accra, Ghana – The Ghana Prisons Service is poised to play a crucial role in bolstering domestic production and enhancing national food security, as announced by Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed, during the recent Government Accountability Series.
In a significant policy shift, Minister Mohammed revealed that up to 20% of the sanitary pads distributed under the government’s Free Sanitary Pad initiative will now be produced within the nation’s correctional facilities. Beyond hygiene products, the Prisons Service will also take on the responsibility for manufacturing 30% of all school desks and school uniforms intended for public use, marking a substantial commitment to local content and inmate rehabilitation through practical skills.
Further elaborating on the transformative agenda, the Interior Minister highlighted the advanced plans by the Ghana Prisons Service to aggressively pursue agricultural projects. These initiatives are designed not only to ensure robust food security for the country but also to significantly enhance inmate skills, providing them with valuable training and a path to productive reintegration into society.
Key projects already underway include the establishment of a large-scale 5,000-layer poultry farm, aimed at boosting local protein supply, and the extensive cultivation of 1,654 acres of various crops. These agricultural ventures underscore a strategic move towards self-sufficiency within the prison system while contributing broadly to Ghana’s food production capabilities.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
