Hot!
Support feeding of prisoners – officers appeal to public
- /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 27
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ASP-Kpiriko-left-receiving-the-items-from-NCO-Bakuri-right-on-behalf-of-the-service.jpg&description=Support feeding of prisoners – officers appeal to public ', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
- Share
- Tweet /home/u249204778/domains/spectator.com.gh/public_html/wp-content/plugins/mvp-social-buttons/mvp-social-buttons.php on line 72
https://spectator.com.gh/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/ASP-Kpiriko-left-receiving-the-items-from-NCO-Bakuri-right-on-behalf-of-the-service.jpg&description=Support feeding of prisoners – officers appeal to public ', 'pinterestShare', 'width=750,height=350'); return false;" title="Pin This Post">
• ASP Kpiriko (left) receiving the items from NCO Bakuri (right) on behalf of the service
The Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Prison Service in the Upper West Region, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) Joseph Kpiriko has appealed to non-governmental organisations and other benevolent bodies to support the feeding of inmates at the prison.
He mentioned that the daily cost of feeding inmates which was pegged at GH₵1.80 per head was woefully inadequate to provide quality and nutritious meals for the inmates and called on the public to assist government take care of the convicts.
The PRO stated this when the Narcotics Control Commission (NARCOC) in the region donated assorted medical drugs to the Wa Central Prison to enable it stock its infirmary and sufficiently treat patients.
The drugs mobilised by the Commission from various pharmaceutical companies comprised 4,800 tablets of Ibudol plus, 150 tablets of albendazole USP 400, 600 tablets of Lufart Forte, and 60 tablets of Tininadazole 500 for treating malaria, general body pains and other first aid needs.
ASP Kpiriko explained that although there had not been a day that the inmates had gone without food, the quantity of meals served was not adequate but could be improved if they received food donations and other welfare needs.
He described the gesture by the NARCOC as ‘heaven-sent’ and timely and made a call to the public for donation of more drugs to the prison.
He stated that prior to the donation, the infirmary at the prison could barely treat sick inmates due to the shortage of essential drugs and said although some of the inmates had skin infections that needed attention, there were not enough drugs to treat them.
“We have an infirmary and three trained nurses who are officers so we are able to handle some of the ailments and also admit sick inmates temporarily, however, if the patient requires further medical attention, we take them to a general hospital”, he said.
Narcotic Control Officer (NCO) Issahaque Bakuri for his part said that the donation was to meet an earlier request by inmates for drugs to stock their infirmary as according to them, there were no drugs to treat common sicknesses.
He said that a greater number of the inmates were youth and needed sympathy, love and support from the public to make them feel at home and have the urge to turn over a new leaf.
NCO Bakuri said that NARCOC was working harder to mobilise more drugs and mattresses for the inmates.
The officer disclosed that aside the donation, the commission as part of its mandate provided regular counselling services to inmates with narcotic drug addiction to help them break the addiction.
From Lydia Darlington Fordjour, Wa
African leaders have been urged to strengthen political commitment and domestic investment to end preventable maternal deaths and AIDS by 2030.
The call comes as African health ministers and policymakers meet in Accra to deliberate on health financing, health security and universal health coverage across the continent.
Mr Edouard Bizimana, Burundi’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and Development Cooperation, made the call on Tuesday at the opening of the African Union’s (AU) 25th Extraordinary Summit on Health in Accra.
He said Africa needed increased domestic investment to build resilient health systems as it continued to grapple with infectious diseases and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Mr Bizimana, who is also Chairperson of the AU Executive Council, said although Africa accounted for nearly 17 per cent of the world’s population, it bore 24 per cent of the global disease burden while having less than three per cent of the global health workforce and only one per cent of global health expenditure.
“Despite maternal mortality declining by nearly 40 per cent since 2000, Africa still accounts for about 70 per cent of maternal deaths globally, while almost two-thirds of people living with HIV reside on the continent,” he said.
Mr Bizimana said the growing burden of NCDs was placing additional pressure on already stretched health systems.
“These figures are not merely statistics. They represent painful human realities, preventable losses and unacceptable inequalities, they remind us that health is not an expense it is a strategic investment and a prerequisite for our sovereignty and development. “he said.
Mr Bizimana said recent global health emergencies had exposed Africa’s vulnerability and underscored the need to expand local production of medicines and vaccines, strengthen the health workforce and improve emergency preparedness.
“Our citizens expect resilient health systems where every mother can give birth safely, every child has access to essential healthcare and every African enjoys quality health services regardless of where they live,” he said.
The two-day summit, being held ahead of the 20th Extraordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government, has brought together health ministers, policymakers and health stakeholders to identify solutions to Africa’s health financing and security challenges.
Madam Florence Samizi, Tanzania’s Deputy Health Minister, called for stronger collaboration among AU Member States to accelerate progress towards universal health coverage.
The summit is being held on the theme: “Advancing Justice, Equality and Universal Health Coverage: Ending AIDS, Tuberculosis, Improving Maternal Health, Addressing Endemic Non-Communicable and Neglected Tropical Diseases in Africa.”
The meeting is expected to adopt the Accra Declaration, a roadmap to strengthen Africa’s health systems and advance health sovereignty by 2030. -GNA
Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana’s Department of Political Science, Dr. Joshua Jebuntie Zaato says the imprisonment of the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will have little meaning unless it leads to a broader crackdown on illegal mining.
In a post on his Facebook page on the July 21, 2026, Dr. Zaato said the judgment should mark the beginning of efforts to completely eradicate galamsey and hold all those involved accountable, regardless of their political affiliation.
He said the country must work towards restoring polluted rivers, protecting forests and ensuring that people implicated in illegal mining activities are prosecuted.
According to him, those the President has publicly acknowledged to be involved in galamsey should face prosecution.
He called for the prosecution of district chief executives (DCEs), members of Parliament (MPs) and senior political party officials who have been accused of engaging in or supporting illegal mining.
Dr. Zaato further urged the government to take decisive action to end the destruction of the country’s forests caused by galamsey.
He maintained that the imprisonment of Chairman Wontumi would only have a lasting impact if it results in a comprehensive and impartial fight against illegal mining across the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
