By Morkporkpor Anku
Accra, April 17, GNA – Alhaji Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, the Executive Director of the Crime Check Foundation (CCF), has engaged the High Commissioner of Togo to Ghana as part of efforts to strengthen international collaboration in justice delivery and prison reform.
He said the visit was to explore partnership opportunities with the Togolese High Commission, with a particular focus on improving the conditions of foreign nationals, especially Togolese nationals incarcerated in Ghana’s prisons
Alhaji Kwarteng introduced the Foundation’s model of support to inmates in prison, to the High Commissioner, which includes prison advocacy, paying fines of petty offenders and an inmates reintegration programme among others.
He said since the start of the Foundation, it had supported in paying fines for over 1000 petty offenders and had reintegrated most of them into society
The Executive Director said the recidivism rate in Ghana’s prisons was high and it was a major concern for the Foundation.
Alhaji Kwarteng emphasized the need for joint efforts in providing legal and welfare support to migrant inmates, especially inmates from the ECOWAS Sub-region, highlighting the Foundation’s ongoing initiatives aimed at ensuring fair and humane treatment for all prisoners regardless of nationality.
He said currently the prison population was 14,000, with 893 as migrant prisoners and 852 being migrant prisoners from the ECOWAS nationals.
He commended the High Commissioner and the Togolese government for its efforts in reducing the remand population, adding that the Foundation could work closely with the High Commissioner to conduct regular visits to prisons.
The Executive Director requested to visit some Togolese prisons together with the Togolese Prison Authorities with the facilitation of the High Commissioner of Togo to Ghana.
“Such an engagement will allow for potential collaborative projects, including inmate rehabilitation and reintegration programmes,” he said.
He said the Foundation was committed to working closely with the High Commission to champion reforms that uphold justice, dignity, and human rights.
He said the meeting marks a significant step towards cross-border cooperation in criminal justice, and it was expected to open new avenues for advocacy and support for vulnerable prison populations in both countries.
Mr Awoki Panassa, the High Commissioner commended the leadership of the Foundation for its efforts in improving the justice delivery in Ghana.
“I am also aware that there are hundreds of Ghanaian nationals languishing in Togolese prisons and many Togolese in Ghana’s Prisons,” he said.
The High Commissioner, speaking through an interpreter, said he was also excited about the Foundation’s inmate’s reintegration programme, since this would get them to be welcomed into society.
Mr Panassa pledged to support and help the visit of the Foundation to any of the Togolese Prisons, while working with the Authorities to make the visit possible.
GNA
KOA