By Morkporkpor Anku
Accra, Aug. 25, GNA- Mr. Isaac Kofi Egyir, the Director-General Of Prisons, says psychosocial support to inmates and the reintegration of persons released from prison are laudable.
The Psychosocial support project stands to contribute significantly to our ongoing commitment to enhancing the welfare and rehabilitation of our prison population, he said.
Mr Egyir was speaking at the launch of Crime Check Foundation’s Psychosocial Support And Arts Therapy Project In Prisons.
The main goal of the project, funded by the US State Department – Bureau for Narcotics and Law Enforcement, is to sustainably improve access to psychosocial support.
This includes arts therapy for prisoners in Ghana through a collaboration between a civil society organization (recipient of grant), academic institutions and the Ghana Prisons Service.
The project sought to increase psychosocial support to prisoners through individual and group psychotherapy by psychologists/psychiatrists; and increase psychosocial support to prisoners through arts therapy, including theatre and writing projects for prisoners together with universities.
He said it was important that the UNODC in collaboration with the Ghana Prisons Service was implementing a three-year prison reform project entitled “Strengthening the Compliance of the Ghana Prisons Service with the United Nations Standards Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners (the Nelson Mandela Rules).”
The project focuses on supporting the Ghana Prisons Service in the areas of health and basic services,
classification of prisoners as per their individual needs and enhancing prisoners’ access to sustainable rehabilitation programmes.
The Director-General said it was imperative that they recognized the unique challenges faced by incarcerated individuals, some of whom may suffer from various mental health disorders.
He said the Prisons Service was committed to providing comprehensive mental health care and psychosocial support to all inmates, ensuring that their dignity and rights were upheld.
He said the Psychosocial support and Arts therapy Programme being launched was a testament to their commitment to the holistic well-being of their inmates.
Mr Egyir said mental health was an issue that affected all, and it was particularly challenging within the confines of a prison.
He said inmates faced unique stresses and difficulties, and it was their duty to provide them with the support and resources they needed to cope and heal.
“The stress and anxiety experienced by prison officers and inmates can lead to serious mental health issues,” he said.
The Director-General said recognizing these challenges, the Prisons Service was committed to collaborating with relevant stakeholders to ensure the mental well-being of the dedicated personnel.
He said to address mental health issues, the Service, with the support of UNODC and other well-meaning organizations, had implemented a robust mental health programme that included screening, assessment, and treatment services.
He said the collaboration between the UNODC, Crime Check Foundation and the Prisons Service, in launching this initiative, was a testament to their shared commitment to the holistic rehabilitation of inmates.
He said the Service was committed to building a correctional system that embodied proper reformation, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders and continued to welcome new interventions and initiatives in that regard.
Mr. Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng- Executive Director, Crime Check Foundation, said the project was expected to improve psychosocial support and arts therapy for inmates with mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, and other related conditions.
He said the beneficiary prisons were Nsawam Medium Security, Kumasi Central, Sunyani, Koforidua, Winneba, Awutu Senya Camp, and Ho Prisons.
Mr Kwarteng, who is also the Ambassador Extraordinaire for the Ghana Prisons Service, said inmates in beneficiary prisons would be screened to identify those who required support, and one documentary would be developed and aired as an advocacy tool.
Others are psychosocial support and arts therapy documents would be developed to provide support for beneficiary inmates; media awareness programmes would be organized on the project and to increase action of government institutions, CSOs, and other actors to further improve psychosocial support for inmates.
Mrs Helena Adobea Ofori, Representative from UNODC Ghana Office, said the UNODC project had three major pillars aiming at promoting and enhancing Compliance with the
Nelson Mandela Rules; classification which is the categorization and treatment of prisoners based on an individualized assessment of risks and needs; and improving rehabilitation and social reintegration of prisoners.
She said UNODC served as the custodian of these rules and to promote their practical application among member countries such as Ghana.
She said they outlined minimum prison conditions, provided guidance, and set clear benchmarks for prison staff on how to uphold safety, security and human dignity.
GNA