Story by: Ishmael Barfi
In efforts to ensure the Ghana National Prisons Service executes its constitutional mandate, reforming and transforming inmates, the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP) has extended its Empowerment program to support inmates.
The Empowerment program under the theme: “Entrepreneurship for Development” is a collaboration between the NEIP and the Ghana Prisons Service Program Prisons.
And is expected to ease the burden of both Prison officers and inmates, especially after serving their prison terms by providing them starter packs, grants, and loans.
Interior Minister Ambrose Dery inspects some of the products exhibited
Speaking at the Launch of the Programme, at the Prisons Headquarters in Accra on Wednesday, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NEIP Mr. Kofi Ofosu Nkansah said about 250 personnel have been trained in various skills as part of the programme.
He Intimated that NEIP will also provide Grants and loans as working capital for officers who have been trained for them to be able to set up these businesses properly.
Working capital he reiterated will also be given to Inmates to set up upon their discharge from the prisons.
“The grants and loans will be provided under our youth in innovative Agric disbursement for those who did fruit juice processing and the Presidential start-up support and you start for other products”, the CEO emphasized.
Interior Minister Ambrose Dery in a text chat with Finance Deputy Minister John Kumah & NEIP CEO, Mr. Nkansah
Some of the skills the Beneficiaries were taken through include soap and detergent making, liquid soap, grains and cereals processing, and packaging.
The rest are juice processing and packaging from all local millet/sorghum, ground nut paste, and chocolate spread among others.
Mr. Owusu Nkansah further expressed NEIP’s commitment to creating jobs using the Presidential pitching and You Starts.
The Director General of Prison Service, Mr. Isaac K Egyir said the contributions of rehabilitated inmates to national development can not be downplayed, commending NEIP for this collaboration which he said would help create jobs for the inmates.
Finance Deputy Minister,Mr. John Kumah handing over some equipments to Prisons Director-General, Mr. Isaac K. Egyir as NEIP CEO,Mr. Nkansah looks on
Therefore he was of the view that the programme will provide sustainable livelihood skills to inmates, hence preparing them to contribute meaningfully to society upon discharge.
The training program he revealed has been structured in a way that inmates who benefit are certified to be competent in particular skills.
Adding that “starter “packs that will be given to inmates are intended to set them on the path to a self-sustaining and income-generating enterprise.
Interestingly, inmates who have more time to do in prison he explained would also be given similar packages to enable them to ply their skills in prison, culminating into some form of earning scheme for themselves as well as the Prisons Service.
Launching the Entrepreneurship and Innovation program, the Interior Minister Mr. Ambrose Dery acknowledged that, the operations of the Ghana Prisons Service over the years have had a direct impact on the lives and future of over 15,000 predominantly young Ghanaians who have fallen foul of the law and are in the custody of the Service, hence has a special role to play in the Criminal Justice System of Ghana.
Group picture of dignitaries
According to him, this is the beginning of another potential life-changing journey in the lives of these young inmates in the country’s prisons.
As well as give a significant boost to efforts already being made by the Prison Service to provide Rehabilitation Programmes for inmates.
The program he noted will not only benefit the beneficiaries but also other persons who may be employed by the beneficiaries as well as also contribute towards Ghana’s long-term strategic vision of consolidating her middle-income status and further building an industry-driven economy.
“The acquisition of these skills will greatly enhance the chances of beneficiary inmates achieving financial independence upon their discharge”, the Interior Minister acknowledged.
Though 860 inmates from five prison establishments will be initially enrolled in the program, he wished and urged NEIP will extend the program to cover more inmates and prison establishments in the near future.
Source: www.thenewindependentonline.com
