The Ghana Prison Service has held its 2020 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at the headquarters in Accra.

The service held on Friday, 18 December 2020, was graced by the Director-General of the Ghana Prison Service, dignitaries, the media, and people from all walks of life.

The Prison headquarters choir, James Camp Prison choir, Senior Correctional Centre choir, Prisons Training School choir, Nsawam Medium Security Prison choir, the Nsawam Female Prison choir and the Prison Service band treated patrons to renditions of some Christmas carols and other songs.

Speaking at the event, the Director-General of Ghana Prisons Service, Mr Patrick Darko Missah thanked the Government, individuals, and other benevolent bodies for their massive support to the Prison Service.

He said, “I wish to seize this opportunity to thank the government and more especially, our benevolent individuals and corporate bodies, both public and private, for the massive support they offered the Prisons Service, which made it possible to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic into the prisons”.

He also highlighted the successes that the Prison Service has chalked in reducing the number of escapees.

“The main business of the Prisons Service is to ensure that our unfortunate brothers and sisters, who happen to flout the laws of the country, are kept secured and well catered for, within its premises. Over the years, the Service continued to chalk lots of successes in this direction. This year is no exception, the reason is that we have managed to bring down total escapes across the country’s prisons, from 16/sixteen by the close of last year, to a single digit of 4/four for this year and even so, 2/two of them were recaptured. Significantly, therefore, it means the real escape figure is just 2/two,” he said.

He continued: “The grant of general amnesty by His Excellency the President on two separate occasions resulted in a decrease in the entire population of prisoners in custody.

“The amnesties were granted on the 7th of January and 1st May, 2020 to commemorate the Constitution and May Day celebrations respectively. In all 1, 602 prisoners were released from custody. This brought about a significant reduction in the total lockup from 15,117 last year by this time, to 13, 385 in December 2020. The two main exercises were successfully carried out without any hitch,” he added.

He also commended the officers for helping to reduce the number of escapees and prisoners in custody.

“At this point, it is only proper that I do the needful as the Head of this Institution, which is to congratulate all of you on this accomplishment. Nonetheless, going forward, the clarion call should be zero tolerance for escapes,” adding that: “I have the conviction that comes next year, you will be commended for rising to this clarion call.  I hope I can count on every one of you for this quest.”

Read the Director-General’s full speech below:

DIRECTOR GENERAL’S CHRISTMAS AND NEW YEAR MESSAGE TO OFFICERS AND THEIR FAMILIES

This year, we have witnessed one of the most turbulent occurrences in the lives of mankind across the world. The onset of the Covid 19 pandemic and its associated menace in the world by the beginning of the year, caused lots of havoc to many precious lives across the globe and same in the country. The impact was not limited to that of the lives of people but also on the economies of the world. For this reason, resources meant for the other developmental projects and programs had to be diverted to contain the situation. Undoubtedly, this country could not have been insulated against its effects.

As a mini-society, the Prison system with its attendant vulnerability could have been seriously exposed to the merciless scourge by the pandemic, but for swift interventions put in place by the Prisons Administration with the support of the government. Such measures received international acclamation as the best intervention ever implemented, to contain this ruthless pandemic in total institutions.  For sure, we all need to pat ourselves on the back for the various ways we played to prevent the pandemic from invading the prisons.

As we all know, restrictions imposed to control the spread of the disease had to be relatively eased with time, as the surge of the pandemic was reduced by the last quarter of the year.  In a similar vein, we also tried to review a little of the protocols initially put in place, to ease restriction in the prisons.

The glimmer of hope that the intensity of the pandemic was lessening, was almost immediately snipped off, with the news to the effect that a new wave of the pandemic was on the rise in some advanced countries by November 2020.

It is for this reason that I entreat all of us to continue to religiously observe all the COVID-19 protocols as established from the beginning of its onset since it is not over and indeed even more virulent with its second wave. 

On this note, I wish to seize this opportunity to thank the government and more especially, our benevolent individuals and corporate bodies, both public and private, for the massive support they offered the Prisons Service, which made it possible to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic into the prisons.

This notwithstanding, the euphoria associated with Christmas and the New Year celebrations should not be stifled off completely within the prison community,  as it wouldn’t be the case in the larger society, just because of the pandemic. However, we must necessarily be cautious and seek to control undesirable levels of ecstasy associated with Christmas in normal years, as the pandemic seem poised to cause much massive disruption to lives and the economies of the world the next time around. Our dear nation Ghana would not be spared of the wrath of the second wave of the pandemic if care is not taken. 

Having said that, I would like to begin this year’s message by apprising you of steps taken, to bring about the realization of the mandate of the Service in the year 2020.

Funding:

As usual, inflows from government kitty were manageable though all did not come as expected. Funding for Administrative Expenses but the last quarter was received in full. What was a bit problematic, was funding for Capital Expenditure. Looking at the picture in totality, the logical thing to do to mitigate this problem in the ensuing years is for the Service to revise its internal income generation activities. Given this, Headquarters will come up with pragmatic policies on this issue. It is anticipated that all officers will support and own these policies when they are eventually put in place so that the financial situation can be improved.

Safe custody:

The main business of the Prisons Service is to ensure that our unfortunate brothers and sisters, who happen to flout the laws of the country, are kept secured and well catered for, within its premises. Over the years, the Service continued to chalk lots of successes in this direction. This year is no exception, the reason is that we have managed to bring down total escapes across the country’s prisons, from 16/sixteen by the close of last year, to a single digit of 4/four for this year and even so, 2/two of them were recaptured. Significantly, therefore, it means the real escape figure is just 2/two.

The grant of general amnesty by His Excellency the President on two separate occasions resulted in a decrease in the entire population of prisoners in custody. The amnesties were granted on the 7th of January and 1st May, 2020 to commemorate the Constitution and May Day celebrations respectively. In all 1, 602 prisoners were released from custody. This brought about a significant reduction in the total lockup from 15,117 last year by this time, to 13, 385 in December 2020. The two main exercises were successfully carried out without any hitch.

At this point, it is only proper that I do the needful as the Head of this Institution, which is to congratulate all of you on this accomplishment. Nonetheless, going forward, the clarion call should be zero tolerance for escapes.

I have the conviction that comes next year, you will be commended for rising to this clarion call.  I hope I can count on every one of you for this quest.

Expansion

Last year, I informed you of the expansion activities I was committed to taking the Service through, as part of efforts to achieve the strategic goals of the Service spelt in our 10/ten-year strategic plan.

I am happy to say that there have been extensive strides made in this direction. To start with, the creation of two more Directorate of the Service has been done. Therefore we have successfully decoupled the Agric Unit from the mainline Prison Operations and made it an autonomous directorate. In the same vein, the Service deems it necessary to have a separate Health Directorate, to ensure that the health needs of the Prisons’ community are adequately taken care of. Given this, the New Health Directorate has also been established.

Even at the formative stages of these two Directorates, much has been achieved already. It is anticipated that with time, the two new directorates will change the phase of the Service. It is also our dream that the Health Directorate will rise to the occasion, by ensuring that the Service can stand shoulder to shoulder with other sister security organizations, in the delivery of quality health care, not only to the prison community but also to the entire Ghanaian community. The infirmary at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison has been elevated to a District Hospital; whilst those at Kumasi, Central, Ankaful Maximum, and the Koforidua local Prisons have also been elevated into Clinics.

Apart from the above, a proposal for the construction of purpose-built hospitals in strategic locations within the prison communities across the country is receiving necessary attention from an acclaimed Non-Governmental Organization. As such it would not be long before officers and their families, including the inmates will begin to enjoy, quality healthcare delivery, within our premises. Indeed, with the enlistment and commitment of two very young medical doctors and other equally young and hardworking paramedics into the Service, I am optimistic that in no time, our dream will be realized.  I call on every one of you, to put your shoulders to the wheel and support the expansion program for the betterment of the Service and our selves.

Construction works

Again as part of efforts to operationalize the 10/Ten-year development plan, the construction of new structures has been undertaken in the year. Indeed the dream of opening more camp prisons has virtually been accomplished. As a result, the construction of four of the five new farm camp prisons I promised last year, are at advanced levels of completion. The camp at Ejura in the Ashanti Region is at a 90% completion rate and has commenced operations already. Those at Nsawam, Obuasi, and Damongo will certainly be opened by the close of next year. The Service has not abandoned the construction of the one at Kwamoso, in the Eastern Region-the last of the five as promised last year. Plans are thus far advanced, to complete arrangements with the Chiefs and landlords of the area, for proper documentation and transfer of the lands to be secured for the camp. With this in place, I wish, on behalf of my Directorate and the entire Service, to convey my sincere gratitude to the Church of Pentecost, Ghana, for availing the full funding requirements, needed for the construction of these model camp prisons. The last but not the least of these new developments over the year is the construction of a Remand Prison at the Nsawam. This structure, which is funded by the government of Ghana is about 60% complete. Here again, I am optimistic that it may be completed by the close of next year to ease the pressure at the Medium Security Prison.

Promotions

I am sure all of you are convinced that getting your well-deserved promotions is no longer problematic. Time was when it was dreadful thinking about promotions and the goose pimples which developed thereafter, because of the undue delays arising therefrom.  Thank God it’s no longer the case as promotions for the past two years have been swift and bountiful.

Even during the disruptions caused by Covid 19 this year, promotions have been undertaken for both junior and senior officers, and that many of you are smiling as I refer to it. As a testimony, a total figure of 2, 271 junior officers have been promoted just within the last quarter of this year alone. On the part of the senior officers, 143 of them, from the ranks of Deputy Superintendent of Prisons to Chief Superintendent of Prisons, have just been promoted to their next higher rank. We still await the approval by His Excellency: The President of the Republic, the promotion of One/1 Deputy Director-General of Prisons, Six new Directors of Prisons, and 5/Five Deputy Director of Prisons.

All the same, I am aware that some of you, especially those with extra qualifications, are still not satisfied with the spate of promotions in the System. For this group of officers, I have to alert you that the Administration is trying to avoid situations that brought about prolonged promotions, especially within the junior officer corps in the previous years. The need, therefore, arises, for us to critically scrutinize the interest of this group of officers, amongst other divergent interests, and come out with an all-inclusive policy in the interest of all officers. I, therefore, entreat all officers to exercise restraint, whilst the Administration takes a look at all knotty issues surrounding junior officer promotions. Again, I am convinced it would not belong.

Indeed, the expansion of the Administrative structure, which has just taken off as espoused above, will certainly create more room for promotions from the top, down to the last of the structures and so the issue of delayed promotions will soon be a thing of the past. It has already facilitated the possible promotion of 6/six new Directors of Prisons, instead of 4/four which had been created following the retirement of some Directors under the old Establishment. This has trickled down and has accounted for unprecedented numbers of promotions of the rest of the ranks from DDP to DSP and even within the junior-officer corps.

Recruitment

Having considered the effects of the low staff strength on the workload of all staff, the reason for which many more of you had to work all-year-round without rest at the weekends, or leave for many years of your working lives; government heeded to the request of the Administration and okayed the enlistment of 150 fresh cadets and recruitment of 2100 recruits, to augment the dwindling staff strength of the Service in the year.  A larger percentage of these fresh hands have completed their regimental training and have since been posted to stations where their skills are most needed. The last of the batches of recruits have just started training at POTs.

Indeed, it is only proper and it has been planned in such a way that, the last of the Cadet Course Intakes, should be restricted to those of you within the non-commissioned officer corps. This is certainly a sure way of motivating you the old officers and also to harness requisite skills needed from officers who have already been well-groomed and can stand the tidings of the times. Thus a competitive examination was set for eligible officers within the non-commissioned officer-corps and 200/two hundred of them who acquitted themselves so well, have been selected, and are programmed to start training by January next year. Many more of such courses are in the often and so I urge those who took part in the examination the last time but could not make it, to start preparing themselves towards subsequent ones, which will certainly come along in the next year, instead of throwing their hands in despair.  

Logistics

This year the Service has been lucky to receive 10/ten Brand new 2020 Nissan Hardbody model of Pickup from the government to augment our fleet of vehicles already in operation. Though certainly not enough, the government has promised to add more and so we should not lose hope. Apart from that, the Service was also fortunate to have received a Benz Bus Ambulance donation, from one philanthropic Evangelist. The donation of the Ambulance will go a long way to facilitate the delivery of quality health care to the inmates and officers as well.

Discipline

Headquarters is yet to come to a full grasp of causes which precipitate the spate of indiscipline amongst officers in the Service, especially those from the central prisons. A lot of the problem still has to do with the trafficking of prohibited items in form of cigarettes, mobile phones, and worse of all Indian Hemp into the prisons for the use of inmates. It appears some officers are not aware, or better still unmindful, that the use of mobile phones and Indian Hemp by inmates can cause turbulence in the prisons and result in the loss of lives and property in the event of a prisoners’ riot. It’s unthinkable what the mindset of such unscrupulous officers are as if they care little about the safety of innocent inmates and that of their own lives. The administration will not relent in meting out the requisite punishment to deter the malevolent conduct of these immoral officers in the system, as happened this year. Serious efforts are in place to sanitize the system, by ensuring that such characters are weeded out of the Service.

Conversely, positive conduct would be rewarded appropriately. As such an officer from the Nsawam Female Prison has been promoted out of turn this year, because she exhibited bravery and valour leading to the recapture of an escapee from no other place than the central business area of the Ashaiman Township. Therefore, indiscipline will consistently be punished, just as good conduct will continue to be rewarded appropriately, so, the ball is in your courts, choose how you want to be treated and what you want to earn.

Elections

My dear officers, 2020 has been an extraordinary year in the sense that, with all its challenges, we as citizens of our dear nation, have had a successful election of our political leaders. I wish to commend each one of you, for the way and manner you supported the Police, whose mandate it is, to maintain law and order, during the period of the electoral duties. I am enthused with the professional manner in which you carried out your duties and wish to encourage you to be mindful of the need to exhibit professionalism in all situations and at all times. Never allow yourselves to be drawn into partisan politicking as your allegiance is to the state.

Christmas Mood

As I said earlier on, there is the need to savour the joy of Christmas this year, but then we should do that in moderation because of the Covid-19 situation.  I implore you and your families to be wary about the resurgence of the pandemic and to be reminded that its second wave is reported to be more lethal than before. There cannot be any reason why the country and, in particular, the Service, should lose any of you to the pandemic.

In the same vein, you must be mindful of the fact that the pandemic is no respecter of persons and does not care how much we pray against it, without adhering to the various protocols in place to take care of its containment. I will, therefore, advise that you celebrate the yuletide with your families at home and reduce or eliminate the risk of getting infected since aimless outings can render you liable to its infection.

Conclusion

Above all, it is incumbent on us to rededicate ourselves to our responsibilities, especially during the yuletide as we would be spending most of the period on duty, rather than on the frolic of our times. There cannot be any reason why, anybody should absent oneself from duty, because of the demands on us during this special period. I am again calling on all of you, to provide the inmates with the needed care and support, since they have become part of our families by the nature of our work.

I pray that the Good Lord protect and bless each one of us and our families, during and after the period. As we pray for ourselves and our families, I entreat you to pray for very lasting peace and progress in the Service and country as a whole.

Once again, I wish all of you and your families, Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year in advance.  

Thank you.