Profile
DSP Samuel Opoku, the man at the forefront of ‘The Youth and Crime Campaign’ of Ghana Prisons
DSP Samuel kofi Opoku interacting with the students
“The development of the youth must be very crucial to every country. It is the reason why every government must consider policies to protect them because they represent the future. They are the generation to take over from older ones.”
The above quote represents the view of a vibrant young man, Mr Samuel Kofi Opoku, a Deputy Superintendent of Prisons (DSP) of the Ghana Prisons Service (GPS).
DSP Opoku is stationed at the Service’s Headquarters at Cantonment and has become the face of the ‘The Youth and Crime Campaign,’ an initiative of the Ghana Prisons Service.
With his passion for youth development, DSP Opoku has welcomed this responsibility thrown at him by his superiors and is wholeheartedly committed to it.
The ‘The Youth and Crime Campaign,’ seeks to address the cause of the youth’s involvement in crime and also, contribute in reducing their involvement in crime.
It appeared defunct as it witnessed little or no activity but recent effort by the Service has breathed life into the campaign and seem to be transforming the lives of the youth in schools, churches and the GPS.
DSP Opoku’s association with the project started after joining the Service in January 2017. He was invited by a Charismatic Church at Kasoa in the Central region to have a talk with the members about the work of the GPS.
What was supposed to last for 30 minutes was stretched for over three hours.
After that, he felt the ignorance of the youth regarding some of the crimes around them and life in and after prison.
The outcome motivated him to accept the challenge of the campaign powered by the Public Relations Unit of the Service in 2022.
“We visit schools, churches and educate them about crimes, juvenile detention and the Juvenile Justice system in the country. Among the schools and churches visited were Labone Senior High School, Nugs Career Fairs, Rangoon Basic School, Kinbu Secondary School, Presbyterian Church Osu, and Mampong School for the Deaf.
Challenges
In all of these, language appear to be the biggest challenge faced by the campaign team because some of the groups or individuals encountered who were not conversant with the English language, had to be attended to differently in other languages.
“That notwithstanding, we are able to educate children about crime and its consequences on individuals whether young or old. That has gone a long way to reduce the child involvement in crime stories.”
It is the wish of DSP Opoku that they would be able to cover a lot of remote areas to benefit from the laudable initiative.
And in all of these, he hailed the impact of the Director General of the GPS, Mr. Isaac Kofi Egyiri, and Prisons Directorate for their immense support over the years for championing this course. And also Dr. Vladmir Antwi Danso for encouraging and supporting financially to the Prisons Service.
The campaign falls in line with the Ghana Prison Service’s mandate for reformation and integration into the society. This is done by taking inmates through various skills training at the classrooms at the various prison centres.
But one important thing the campaign has lacked is corporate support.
In his view, it was important for the corporate sector especially to support the campaign to reduce crime among the youngsters to create a crime-free environment for businesses to thrive.
Passion
Before joining the GPS, he had stints with Radio Windybay in Winneba in the Central Region as a student news anchor. He also worked as a talk show host and producer, Editor for the Profile newspaper, Reporter and Producer at Channel R, Correspondent for the Ghanaian Observer and Daily Guide newspapers.
He taught English language and Literature at the Aggrey Memorial Senior High School in Cape Coast, Mercy Islamic Senior High School and St. Dominic Senior High School in Kwahu- Pepease.
He later coached the female basketball team of the Aggrey Memorial Senior High School to win their first ever trophy at the 2013 edition of the Sprite Ball Competition.
Life
DSP Opoku started his primary school education at the Presec Staff School (Legon) and continued to Tema Senior High School where he studied General Arts.
He holds a Diploma in Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication (Public Relations) from the University of Media Arts and Communication (UNIMAC) formerly Ghana Institute of Journalism (GIJ).
He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of Education, Winneba, Certificate in Radio Broadcasting, Certificate in Advance Monitoring and Evaluation from the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration.
Work
He was enlisted into the Prison Service in January, 2017 as a Cadet Officer and commissioned as an Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) on March 23, 2018 after 18months of paramilitary training at the Prison Officers Training School in Accra.
He first worked at the Monitoring, Research and Evaluation office at the Prisons Headquarters but was transferred in February 2019 to the Commercial Unit at the Prisons Headquarters and in May 2020 to the Public Relations Unit at the Prisons Headquarters.
After a hard day’s work, DSP Opoku relaxes by listening to music, writing and playing basketball.
He is the last among three siblings to Mr. William Freeman Opoku and Madam Veronica Naana Essien from Akim- Oda in the Eastern region.
Advice
DSP Opoku advised the youth to stay focused to realize their dreams by taking their studies very serious to become responsible and productive citizens.
The Ghana Prisons Service as a key stakeholder of the Criminal Justice System of Ghana contributes to the maintenance of internal security by maintaining an efficient, humane, and safe reformatory penal system operated within the laws of Ghana.
The Service is committed to undertaking the safe custody, humane treatment, reformation, rehabilitation, and reintegration of inmates to make them responsible, productive, and law-abiding citizens to ensure public safety.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
AUTISM Awareness Care and Training (AACT) is Ghana’s first autism-focused centre, playing a pioneering role in the care, education, and advocacy for children on the autism spectrum and their families.
Established in 1998, AACT began as a parent-support and training initiative at a time when autism was poorly understood in Ghana. Many families raising autistic children faced stigma, isolation, and limited access to information or professional assistance.
Over the years, the organisation has evolved into a full-fledged autism care and training centre, responding to the growing demand for specialised services and sustained nationwide awareness.
AACT is currently located in Haatso, Accra, where it operates a structured day programme serving about 25 learners daily. The centre provides a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment where children with autism are guided to develop essential life, social, and functional skills.
Programmes at the centre focus on independent living skills, vocational and pre-vocational training, functional academic skills, and therapeutic interventions. These activities are tailored to the individual needs of each learner, recognising that children on the autism spectrum learn and develop at different paces.
According to Abeiku Grant, Head of Programmes at AACT, the centre’s philosophy is centred on ability rather than limitation.
“Every autistic child is different,” he said. “Our work is to support them at their own pace and help them discover what they can do, not to focus on what they cannot do.”
Beyond centre-based services, AACT places strong emphasis on autism awareness and advocacy, particularly within schools and communities. Many children with autism in Ghana continue to face rejection and exclusion due to stigma, misinformation, and the lack of trained personnel in educational institutions.
In 2025, AACT reached over 20 schools across the country, providing autism education to teachers, students, and school administrators.
The organisation also runs free teacher training programmes, equipping educators with practical knowledge and basic tools to support autistic learners in inclusive classroom settings.
“Many schools tell us they are not resourced or trained to handle autistic learners,” Mr Grant explained. “Instead of waiting for change, we decided to go to them and train teachers for free.”
AACT also engages learners directly, addressing widespread misconceptions about autism, including the false belief that autism is contagious or caused by bad parenting. These outreach programmes aim to build empathy among students and promote peer support for autistic learners in mainstream schools.
Another major challenge confronting families is limited access to autism services, especially outside Accra. With most autism centres concentrated in the capital, many families from other regions are forced to travel long distances or keep their children at home due to cost, stigma, or lack of support.
“Education is not meant only for typical children,” Mr Grant stressed. “Children with autism also have the right to education and care. No child should be hidden because of lack of understanding or opportunity.”
As part of its outreach work, AACT supports parents to overcome stigma and encourages social interaction for children with autism, believing that community engagement is essential for development and confidence building.
In December 2025, the centre received what it described as its largest donation of the year, raised by children from the Unmasked Mentoring initiative. According to the organisation, the donation was particularly significant as it demonstrated empathy and social responsibility among young people.
As a non-governmental, non-profit organisation, AACT depends largely on donations, partnerships, and goodwill to sustain and expand its work. Current needs include a minibus for community-based social activities, expansion of its facility to accommodate more learners, sponsorship support for children from financially challenged families, and funding to scale autism awareness programmes nationwide.
Looking ahead, AACT envisions a Ghanaian society that is inclusive, informed, and supportive of persons with autism.
“Our goal is a Ghana where children with autism are accepted and supported,” Mr Grant said. “Every child has potential. All they need is understanding, opportunity, and care.”
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
If you found yourself in Tamale last weekend, you would have stepped into an atmosphere alive with colour, rhythm and memory. The maiden Northern Ghana FOTO Festival did not feel like a typical exhibition; it felt like a cultural awakening.
Between rows of tall white panels displaying hundreds of striking images, a cultural troupe danced their way through the space, their drumming rolling through the hall like a heartbeat. The dancers’ movements fluid, bold, traditional, created a living bridge between the past and the photographs surrounding them.
Not far from the performers, chiefs in their elegant traditional regalia paused thoughtfully before portraits capturing festivals, rituals and everyday life. This immersive scene set the tone for the Northern Ghana FOTO Festival, which opened in Tamale with a resounding call for cultural preservation through visual storytelling.
The event gathered photographers, cultural advocates, scholars and traditional leaders to celebrate the narratives, traditions and identities that shaped northern Ghana. Originally launched with a call for just 30 photographic entries, organisers were overwhelmed with more than 600 images submitted by over 60 contributors from across the five northern regions.
The range of submissions from seasoned photographers and emerging artists to passionate hobbyists formed a vivid collective portrait of the region’s past and present. The opening ceremony amplified the festival’s cultural spirit with traditional drumming, dancing and performances that reflected the rich heritage the exhibition sought to highlight.
Chairperson for the event, Prof. Elliot Haruna Alhassan, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University for Development Studies (UDS), described photography as a crucial tool for documenting Ghana’s cultural evolution. He emphasised that visual storytelling is becoming indispensable in safeguarding customs, values and community memory.
The Guest of Honour and former Rector of Tamale Technical University, Prof. Salifu Asuro, praised the organisers for creating a platform that elevates the cultural identity of northern Ghana. He encouraged public and private institutions to support creative arts initiatives, noting their significant role in national development.
Traditional authorities played a central part in the ceremony. Representatives from the Gukpe Naa and Dakpemaa palaces including Naa Prof. Abdul-Rahaman Issahaku, Chief of Gbanyamle and senior faculty member at UDS, as well as the Chief of Bunbong, Uborr Wumbe Dawuni—commended the festival for fostering cultural continuity and encouraging younger generations to reconnect with their roots.
Speaking on behalf of the Northern Regional Director of the Ghana Tourism Authority, Mr Owusu-Boakye Frank, Senior Standard and quality assurance officer assured the Authority’s commitment to supporting cultural tourism. He stressed that visual storytelling, when harnessed effectively, has the potential to attract visitors, preserve cultural assets and strengthen community identity. He pledged the Authority’s collaboration in future editions to position northern Ghana as a vibrant hub for creativity and heritage.
One of the festival’s major highlights was a panel discussion on the theme: “Preserving Culture, History and Community through Visual Storytelling.” Chiefs, scholars and cultural experts explored the importance of visual documentation as a tool for intergenerational education, emphasising photography’s ability to create a timeless cultural archive.
Team Lead of Foto4Change and convener of the festival, Mr Geoffrey Buta, said the initiative seeks to strengthen cultural conservation efforts through photography. “Our forebears relied on oral tradition to preserve history,” he noted. “Today, visual storytelling enables us to continue that work in a more permanent and accessible form.”
Mr Buta announced plans to transform the festival into a rotational exhibition that will travel across northern Ghana, giving more communities access to the growing visual archive. He added that the event would be institutionalised as an annual celebration of culture, research and artistic dialogue.
The displayed photographs captured festivals, landscapes, portraits, rituals and everyday life offering a colourful, honest and layered view of northern Ghana’s cultural richness. Organisers expressed optimism that with sustained institutional support, the Northern Ghana FOTO Festival could evolve into a major cultural event capable of attracting both national and international attention, while preserving the heritage and stories that make the region unique.
By Spectator Reporter
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
