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Upper West Prisons Service hold colourful pull out ceremony for ADP Joseph Miyella
The Ghana Prison Service in the Upper West Region with the support of the Regional Security Council (REGSEC) on Friday organised a colourful pull out ceremony for its retired Commander, Assistant Director of Prisons (ADP) Joseph Miyella after 21 years of dedicated service.
The ceremony which was held at the forecourt of the Wa Central Prison and saw the presence of commanders and personnel of other Security services and REGSEC members marked the official retirement of the Commander from the prison service.
The Regional Minister, Dr Hafiz Bin Salih eulogising the retired Commander, described him as a dedicated personnel of the service who distinguished himself amongst his colleagues.
He stated that his exit from the service would create a huge gap in the REGSEC but was confident that a good replacement would be brought to fill in the gap.
“Security is a shared responsibility so we all have roles to play hence we welcome your rich contribution as a former member of REGSEC”, he told the retired Commander.
ADP Miyella who was enlisted into the service in 2002 and assumed responsibility as the Regional Commander on October 21, 2022, described his service to the Region as a sucess.
He said in order to meet the feeding needs of inmates, he supervised the creation of three vegetable gardens and also advised families and relatives of inmates to bring raw foodstuff to their relations in order to support regular feeding.
He mentioned that a marketing team was instituted under his tutelage to solicit for support from benevolent individuals, groups and organisations to enhance the wellbeing of the prison inmates.
ADP Miyella who was the first prison officer in the country to be deployed to the United Nations MIssions in Haiti in the Carribeans brought his experience to bear in managing the inmates by liaising with the Narcotics Control commission to hold weekly sensitisation meetings with inmates on drug abuse and addiction.
Through his initiative, he mentioned that support was garnered from a non governmental organisation, Sahara Africa for Change for the construction of two more cells to ease congestion at the prison.
He commended various stakeholders for supporting his time in office and recommended that same support was rendered his predecessor.
Citations and gifts were presented to the retired Commander from both retired and active personnel of the service as well as REGSEC and relations. Significant among them was a butchered dog presented to the Commander by the Dagaaba community of the service in the region as a token of their appreciation to the Commander.
FROM LYDIA DARLINGTON FORDJOUR, WA
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Speaker of Parliament inaugurates open Parliament Steering Committee, launches action plan
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has launched the Open Parliament Steering Committee and the Open Parliament Action Plan.
The ceremony was under the theme “Achieving Gender Equality: Action by Action.”
The Speaker highlighted the critical role Parliament plays in translating the will of the people into inclusive legislation, responsive policies, and accountable governance.
“The International Day of Parliamentarianism is worth celebrating, as it offers an opportunity not only to recognise and promote achievements in strengthening democratic governance, but also to pause and reflect on the remaining gaps in institutionalising parliamentary democracy,” he said.
He noted that the event was scheduled to coincide with the International Day of Parliamentarianism to reinforce the importance of open and inclusive governance.
The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, stated that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is intended to recognise the vital role Parliaments play globally as pillars of democratic governance.
He noted that this marks the first time Ghana is formally observing the day.
“The gravity of our observance is further accentuated as we convene to witness the launch of the Open Parliament Action Plan by the Open Government Partnership Caucus,” he said.
Delivering a statement on behalf of the Minority Leader, Alexander Kwamena Afenyo-Markin, the Deputy Minority Leader, Patricia Appiagyei, described the Open Parliament Action Plan as a transformative initiative aimed at strengthening the relationship between Parliament and the public.
She said the plan represents a bold commitment to making Parliament more transparent, accessible, and responsive to the needs of Ghanaians.
The Clerk to Parliament, Mr. Ebenezer Ahumah Djietror, described the launch as a key milestone in the effort to build a citizen-focused and accountable Parliament.
He added that the International Day of Parliamentarianism is a call to action to recommit to the highest standards of public service and democratic accountability.
The inauguration was attended by a wide range of stakeholders, including the Majority and Minority Members of Parliament, members of the Open Parliament Steering Committee, the Open Government Partnership (OGP) Caucus, Parliamentary Network Africa, representatives from civil society organisations, members of the diplomatic corps, traditional and religious leaders, student bodies, the Parliamentary Press Corps, and other media partners.
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NACOC declares drug menace a national emergency
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior has paid a working visit to the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to engage with its leadership and assess operational challenges hampering the fight against illicit drugs.
In a detailed presentation, Dr. Basha Ligbi, Head of the Commission’s Research Bureau, highlighted critical setbacks including broken body scanners at airport terminals, inadequate office infrastructure, overcrowded detention facilities, and deteriorating vehicles.
He also called for the Commission’s headquarters to be reclassified as a security zone, citing growing security risks due to private encroachment and nearby high-rise developments.
Director General of NACOC, Brigadier General Maxwell Obiba Mantey, described the escalating drug trade as a national emergency, warning that drug barons now rival armed robbers in threat level and are gaining influence at the highest levels.
He appealed for stronger institutional support and morale-boosting interventions to preserve the integrity of NACOC officers.
Chairman of the Committee and MP for Builsa North, James Agalga, assured the Commission of the Committee’s commitment to escalate the concerns to Parliament and engage key justice sector stakeholders to fast-track reforms in support of NACOC’s mandate.
