News
Rehabilitating prison inmates through entrepreneurial skills
Equipping prison inmates with entrepreneurial skills while serving their various jail terms in safe custody is a prerequisite for building a resilient nation.
Looking at this in a wider perspective, the Ghana Prisons Service, over the years has contributed to rehabilitating inmates with skills acquisition that has helped them to be great entrepreneurs and accepted in their communities.
It is, therefore, worthy to note that, providing essential skills training to inmates has an impact in contributing to a law abiding and peaceful society and the nation at large.
On the flip side of the aforementioned scenario, the over 40 prison establishments in Ghana are tremendously investing in the lives of inmates to acquire entrepreneurial skills as part of the service’s mandate to reform them to be useful citizens in society when discharged.
Rehabilitation/ Reformation/ Reintegration
The Ghana Prisons Service has an important role on the lives and future of over 15,000 inmates made up of the youth who have acquired employable skills while serving their term.
The service has considered that, entrepreneurship is a catalyst for economic growth, job creation and social transformation where inmates ‘welfare is prioritised .
It is noteworthy that, when inmates are provided with employable skills, it helps to adequately prepare them for the job market where it also helps in fostering their reintegration into society as useful citizens.
Concerted Efforts/ Commitments by Ghana Prisons Service
The Ghana Prisons Service, under the able leadership of its Director-General, Mr. Isaac K. Egyir has constantly been putting measures in place and creating an enabling environment for inmates to become self-sufficient after serving their jail term.
With the commitment towards transformative programmes for inmates, the Ghana Prisons Service has created the platform to rebuild their lives through various skills acquisition ranging from agric, fish farming, soap and detergent making, juice processing and packaging, bamboo bags to shoe making.
Partnership/Collaboration
Recently, the Ghana Prisons Service together with the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) launched the “Entrepreneurship for Restoration Programme” aimed at providing skills to inmates and also for officers to acquire vocational skills.
The programme provided starter packs and kits needed for production, where the NEIP pledged to provide grants and loans as working capital for officers who have been trained and also give working capital to inmates for their set up, upon discharge from prison.
[The Writer is an Assistant Superintendent of Prisons,
Senior Correctional Centre, Accra-Ghana.]
By ASP Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
The Ghana Tourism Development Company Limited (GTD) in collaboration with the Department of Organisation and Human Resource Management, University of Ghana Business School (UGBS) has marked the 2026 World Safety Day Celebration in Accra.
The event held on Tuesday, April 28, 2026 at the Cedi Conference Centre, Legon was under the theme “Good Psychosocial Working Environment: A Pathway to Thriving Workers and Strong Organizations.”
The day is observed globally to promote safe and healthy working conditions and to raise awareness about both physical and psychological risks at the workplace.
The event formed part of efforts by stakeholders to deepen national conversations on workplace safety, particularly the growing concern about psychosocial well being.
In his keynote address, the Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Dr Abdul Rashid Hassan Pelpuo stressed that workers must not be treated as machines but as human beings with dignity, rights and families.
He explained that unsafe work environments marked by fear, harassment, intimidation and excessive pressure reduce productivity and weaken organisations.
He noted that although physical hazards such as faulty equipment and unsafe buildings remain a concern, psychological risks including excessive workload, bullying, job insecurity and toxic communication are equally dangerous and must be addressed.
According to him, psychological hazards are real, measurable and preventable, and should be treated with the same urgency as physical risks.
He maintained that safe and healthy working conditions are not a luxury but a fundamental right that supports productivity and social justice.
Dr Pelpuo further stated that the government remains committed to strengthening occupational safety and health systems, adding that worker wellbeing is a core responsibility of leadership and not a public relations issue.
He urged employers to create environments where dignity is protected, and workers are empowered to speak without fear.
The Dean of University of Ghana Business School, Prof Ernest Y Tweneboah Koduah noted that the school is committed to shaping a better world of work that is equitable, productive and sustainable.
He announced that the school has secured accreditation from the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission to introduce a programme in organisational health and safety.
He explained that gaps in workplace safety in Ghana are linked to weak enforcement, underreporting and limited professional training.
He added that the new programme will equip graduates with the skills to prioritise employee wellbeing as a key organisational responsibility.
Prof Tweneboah Koduah urged organisations to assess psychosocial risks, invest in human resource capacity and create environments where workers can openly discuss mental health concerns.
He emphasised that collaboration between academia and industry is essential to addressing workplace safety challenges.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor, the Registrar of the University of Ghana, Emelia Naa Kwantsua Agyei Mensah described the event as historic, noting that it is the first time the university is marking the global observance.
She explained that the focus on psychosocial wellbeing reflects current realities in the world of work.
She stated that employee health, including mental and emotional wellbeing, directly affects productivity, morale and institutional performance.
Mrs Agyei Mensah added that the university is committed to creating a safe and supportive environment for staff and students, beyond minimum legal requirements.
She called on leaders to reflect on the kind of workplaces they create and to prioritise the wellbeing of employees.
CEO of the GTDC, Prof Kobby on his part noted that its participation aligns with its commitment under the Riyadh Declaration, which calls on member states to improve infrastructure and public safety, as well as enhance services, transport, connectivity and accessibility.
He indicated that the company intends to use the platform to highlight Ghana’s readiness to implement the declaration, with a strong focus on worker safety and wellbeing as a foundation for sustainable tourism development.
The event brought together policymakers, academics, industry players and students to discuss strategies for improving workplace safety and promoting healthier work environments across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Minister for Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor, has praised engineers and technical teams working to restore electricity after a fire at the Akosombo Substation disrupted power supply.
He said this after visiting the facility on Monday night to assess ongoing repair works following the incident, which affected the control room and caused the loss of more than 1,000 megawatts of power to the national grid.
During the visit, he interacted with engineers and technicians who have been working continuously under difficult conditions to restore operations.
He said he was impressed by their dedication, courage, and professionalism despite the challenges.
The minister commended the teams for their resilience and sacrifice, noting that their efforts reflect a strong sense of duty and commitment to national service.
He assured them of the government’s full support as they continue with the restoration work.
He also assured the public that authorities are doing everything possible to restore stable electricity supply as soon as possible.
By: Jacob Aggrey
