Accra, March 30, GNA -Alhaji Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, the Executive Director of Crime Check Foundation (CCF), has commended partners in the implementation of the Prisons Inmates Tertiary Education Programme (PITEP).
The Programme aims to provide inmates with academic qualifications and skills to contribute positively to society upon release.
It was facilitated and implemented collectively by the Ghana Prisons Service, the University of Cape Coast with sponsorship from Plan Volta Ghana.
Mr Kwarteng, who is also the Ambassador Extraordinaire of Prisons, expressed his admiration for the programme, saying “Education is the key to change, and by providing tertiary education to inmates, we are giving them a second chance at life.”
He said the Prisons Service deserves high praise for the progressive initiative, and it was a beacon of hope, not only for inmates but for society.
He said there was the need to sustain the initiative by securing adequate funding and support from both the government and private sector.
“This programme is not just about education; it is about restoring dignity, giving hope, and reducing recidivism,” he added.
The Executive Director said that there was the need to ensure that the Programme receives the necessary backing to continue transforming lives.
Mr Kwarteng reaffirmed his commitment to advocating policies that prioritize education in prisons, saying “a reformed prisoner is a potential asset to society, and we must all come together to support these life-changing initiatives.”
CCF has long been an advocate for prison reform and the rehabilitation of inmates in Ghana. The Foundation has spearheaded several initiatives aimed at improving the lives of prisoners and ensuring their successful reintegration into society.
Deputy Director of Prisons, Patrick Thomas Seidu, the Officer In Charge of the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, said there were a lot of factors that motivated the Service to initiate the Programme.
He said there were people in Prison, who do not know what to do while others were pursuing courses of education elsewhere before coming, so they intended to identify the potential and enroll them onto the programme.
The Ghana Prisons Service partnered with the UCC to establish the College of Education for Inmates at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison as part of the Programme.
Three of the inmates had First Class Honours.
GNA
CA/