By Morkporkpor Anku
Accra, Nov. 05, GNA – The Crime Check Foundation has launched the “Employ One Returning Citizen” campaign to encourage employers to give people who have served prison sentences opportunities to work and rebuild their lives.
The campaign seeks to address stigma and discrimination that often prevent returning citizens (Ex-convicts) from securing employment after their release from prison.
Alhaji Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, the Executive Director of the Foundation, speaking at the Maiden National Returning Citizens Conference in Accra said the initiative was part of efforts to promote effective reintegration and create a society that supported second chances.
The Conference was on the theme: “Rebuilding Life After Prisons: Effective Reintegration for a Better Society.”
He urged employers to look beyond the past offences of returning citizens and consider their qualifications, skills and potential to contribute to the workplace.
Alhaji Kwarteng said the Foundation was also advocating a national reintegration framework to make support for people leaving prison a shared responsibility for government, communities and the private sector.
He proposed a reintegration policy, district-level committees, a national data system, legal reforms and a dedicated fund to support skills training and employment.
He said the Foundation had facilitated the release of more than 1,000 petty offenders and supported hundreds of former inmates to return to work.
Alhaji Kwarteng said stigma often continued after a prison sentence had been served, leaving some people unable to find jobs or customers for their businesses.
He cited the experiences of two returning citizens, including a woman who faced rejection while selling food and a graduate who struggled to secure employment despite earning first-class honours through distance learning while in prison.
He said the campaign would be supported by the proposed New Beginning Village, a transitional facility intended to link returning citizens with counselling, skills training and employment opportunities.
He called on government, development partners and businesses to support the village, saying land had already been secured for the project.
Alhaji Kwarteng also appealed to the media to use language that recognised people’s return to society and to report on their achievements as well as the challenges they faced.
He said the Foundation was proposing a media compact, including regular stories on successful reintegration and greater access for journalists to prisons to report on rehabilitation.
Nii Odaawulu Doku Odaawulu III, the Sempe Akwiman Mantse, who spoke on behalf of the Ga Mantse, urged communities and employers to accept people who had served their sentences.
He said the success of the correctional system should be measured not only by the number of people imprisoned, but also by how effectively they were prepared to return to society as responsible and productive citizens.
The traditional leader called for rehabilitation, mentorship, employment opportunities and continued support, and urged traditional and religious institutions to help promote reconciliation and restore the dignity of returning citizens.
Mr Alidu Seidu, a Returning Citizen, said: “Life after prison has been extremely difficult. My wife left me because of my prison history. Today, l struggle to feed myself and my children and l have no decent place to sleep except seeking shelter in a slum.”
Mr Seidu, who graduated from the University of Cape Coast’s Distance Programme with First Class Honours said: ” We are not asking Ghana to erase our past. We are asking Ghana to give us a chance to build our future.”
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah
Reporter: Morkporkpor Anku
Reporter’s email address: [email protected]