By Solomon Gumah
Tamale, April 07, GNA – The third phase of the Harnessing Opportunities for Prisoners and Ex-Convicts (HOPE) project, has been launched in Tamale to improve the welfare of inmates and ex-convicts across the Northern Region.
Building on the successes of the first two phases, this new phase aims to expand interventions to reduce recidivism, improve mental health, and empower former inmates through skills training and community reintegration.
The project is being implemented by CSD Reform in collaboration with key partners including the Skills Training Unit of the Tamale Central Prison, Legal Aid Commission, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, Ghana Enterprises Agency, Tamale Vocational Training Institute, Centre for National Culture, and the media.
Funded by Misereor, the project seeks to improve access to justice for prisoners, promote community reintegration of released inmates, restore human rights and dignity, and create economic and employment opportunities for ex-convicts.
Mr Emmanuel Mbo Dome, the HOPE project Manager, speaking during the launch, said it would strengthen the institutional capacity of prison paralegal units to provide free legal services to at least 450 prisoners and remand inmates.
He said, “This project aims to enhance reintegration through trauma healing, psychosocial support, and stigma reduction”.
He added that “We’re also focused on improving access to vocational training and business development services through apprenticeship and competency-based skills development.”
Mr Nereous Daguah, the Head of Programmes at CSD Reform, provided an overview of the achievements from the first two phases, which included legal assistance for 114 remand prisoners, training for 10 paralegal officers, and business and record-keeping training for 56 beneficiaries.
He added that 260 individuals received psychosocial support, 10 beneficiaries were awarded livelihood grants, 92 start-up kits were distributed, and 135 individuals obtained National Vocational Training Institute certification.
He emphasised the need for continued government and civil society efforts at supporting prisoners and raised concerns about the low feeding grant of GHc1.80 per prisoner, saying it was an affront to the country’s human rights protection record.
Deputy Director of Prisons (DDP), Mr Joseph Asabre, the Northern Regional Commander, Ghana Prisons Service, commended CSD Reform and its partners for championing reform initiatives that empowered inmates and ex-convicts and praised the project’s provision of legal support, trauma healing, and vocational opportunities.
Mr Alidu Bawa, one of the beneficiaries of the previous phases of the project, who is now a certified electrician, shared his testimony saying after 15 years in prison, he was left devastated, but the HOPE project helped him rebuild my life.
He said it sharpened his electrical skills and provided him with the tools he needed to work to support his family, adding that presently, he was operating within his community without stigma or discrimination.
GNA
EA/CAA