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 Government of Ghana has approved plans to establish a new teacher training college at Ezinlibo in the Jomoro Municipality of the Western Region.
The Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, announced the decision during a meeting with the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Gas Company.
He explained that the government, through the Ministry of Education and in collaboration with the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission, has a strong case to support the project.
According to him, the new college will help expand access to tertiary education, especially in the Western Region.
He added that the project will be carried out in partnership with Ghana Gas as part of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility efforts to support education in the area.
The minister stressed that the approval is a policy decision, with plans to establish the college in 2027. He noted, however, that the timeline will depend on the availability of funds from the Ghana Education Trust Fund.
He said the initiative is part of the government’s broader plan to improve teacher education and ensure more trained teachers are available across the country.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Gas, Judith Adjoa Blay, said the meeting followed a proposal by the Nzema Academia and Educationalist Association.
She noted that the discussions focused on the policy direction and overall plan for the project.
She further explained that there will be a technical meeting to outline the scope of work and key requirements needed to begin implementation.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Ashanti North Regional Police Command has arrested eight suspected highway robbers in a special intelligence-led operation following a robbery attack on the Mampong–Ejura Highway.
In a press release dated March 31, 2026, and signed by the Ashanti North Regional Commander, Assistant Commissioner of Police Felix Apedo, the police said the suspects were linked to a robbery incident that occurred on March 26, 2026, at the Aframso Bridge.
According to the statement, six armed men attacked a driver, Appiah Joseph, who was transporting 14 passengers in a Ssangyong minibus from Kumasi to Atebubu. The attackers reportedly robbed the victims of cash and mobile phones.
The police explained that after the incident, they gathered intelligence and mounted surveillance on the suspects.
Acting on the information, a special operations team, in collaboration with personnel from the NOD Surveillance Unit in Accra, moved to Amakwa Dadey Hotel at Ejura on March 30, 2026.
The statement noted that upon arrival, the officers found the suspects allegedly sharing money believed to be proceeds from the robbery. Eight suspects were subsequently arrested.
They were identified as Amidu Sajo, Ibrahim Sule, Karim Hadu, Malik Jibrilla, Yusifa Asakoko, Umaru Issifu, Damani Yamba, and Ibrahim Iddrisu, also known as “Bule.”
The police further stated that Iddrisu, who was on the wanted list for previous robbery cases, attempted to escape during the operation. While being pursued, he reportedly attacked an officer with a cutlass and tried to seize a service weapon.
In the process, he sustained gunshot wounds to his left leg and arm.
He was rushed to the Mampong Government Hospital and later referred to the Jamasi Pope John Paul Hospital, where he was pronounced dead while receiving treatment.
Police said several items were retrieved during the operation, including two rounds of AK-47 ammunition, three cutlasses, an amount of GHC 15,717.00, eight mobile phones, a talisman, an ID card, and a side bag.
The remaining suspects are currently in police custody and are assisting with investigations.
The command indicated that the operation is ongoing to arrest other suspects and retrieve additional weapons.
It added that the body of the deceased has been deposited at the Mampong Government Hospital morgue for preservation and further action.
The Ashanti North Regional Police Command assured the public of its commitment to fighting highway robbery and ensuring safety, and urged residents to continue cooperating with the police.
By: Jacob Aggrey
