At the commissioning of the Damongo Prison Camp on Wednesday, President John Dramani Mahama outlined an ambitious plan to transform Ghana’s prisons into productive economic hubs. He revealed that the Ghana Prisons Service will actively contribute to the nation’s 24-hour economy through continuous operations of prison industries.
“This will include manufacturing, sewing school uniforms, producing furniture, agro-processing, and other goods, both for government use and for the open market,” Mahama explained, emphasizing the dual benefit of this initiative: revenue generation and skill development for inmates.
According to the President, large-scale farming will also be a key component, with the government supplying fertiliser, mechanised equipment, tractors, and other implements to boost productivity across prison farms over the next three years. The initiative is intended to make prison camps more self-sustaining while equipping inmates with practical skills they can use after release.
Mahama described the reforms as part of a broader strategy to modernize the penal system, stating, “We are implementing far-reaching reforms which include expanding the use of alternative sentencing for minor and non-violent offences, reviewing bail conditions to avoid undue hardship, especially for the poor, and introducing a parole system to reward good behaviour and accelerate reintegration.”
