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Show compassion, love to prison inmates
The President of the Catholic Bishop Conference, Rev. Mathew Kwasi Gyamfi, has appealed to the management of the Ghana Prisons Service, especially prison wardens to show compassion and love towards inmates in the country’s prisons.
He described people serving jail terms as unfortunate souls who must not be mistreated but accorded some human dignity.
Mr Gyamfi, who is also the Catholic Bishop of the Sunyani Diocese, made the call at the Pulling Out parade and thanksgiving service of the Bono Regional Commander of Prisons and Deputy Director of Prisons, Williams Kulah, who retired on March 28.
Mr Gyamfi called for a reformation and humane application of the penal law system in order not to abuse the rights of inmates.
“Serving jail term should not be seen as a form of punishment but as means to reform. We can all be here if the law was to be applied strictly,” he stated.
The president of the Catholic Bishop Conference further proposed that those who commit petty crimes should be made to undertake community service instead of imprisonment in a bid to decongest the country’s prisons.
“Why do we confine someone who stole a goat, chicken and plantains in prison and not allow them to engage in community service like what other countries do,” he queried.
The Bono Regional Minister, Mr Joseph Addae- Akwaboa, on his part commended Mr Kulah for his exceptional leadership and dedication to duty.
He said the Regional Security Council would miss the invaluable contributions to the Council and wish him well in his endeavours.
In his parting words, Mr Kulah, who served the Service for 34 years, thanked the Director-General of the Service for the opportunity to serve.
The outgoing Commander called for proactive approach in prison management with the necessary support from all stakeholders.
He was born on September 25, 1965 at Nkoranza in the Bono East Region.
He attended Nandom Secondary School and completed his sixth form at Nandom Secondary in 1987, and subsequently completed the Ghana Institute of Journalism in 1992.
He was later enlisted in the Ghana Prisons Service at Officer Cadet in 1996 until his retirement
From Daniel Dzirasah, Sunyani