By Hafsa Obeng
Accra, Sept. 24, GNA – The German Embassy with support from the POS Foundation has donated carpentry materials worth over GH₵ 52, 000.00 to the Nsawam and Ankafo Annex prisons in the Eastern Region.
The materials include an angle grinder, planing machine, sanding machine with table, spraying machine, universal sewing machine and G-Clamps.
The rest are builders square, record sash clamp, chisel set, saw blades, wood blade and wood drill bit set, multipurpose drill backing pad, and backing pad.
Mr Daniel Krull, German Ambassador to Ghana, said Ghana serves as a model for others in respect of rule of law and human rights as a solid basis for a healthy future for the people.
He said this included respect for human rights for all, including inmates in prisons, hence the need for the Embassy to help improve the employability of inmates in prison.
He said it was to ensure that once they leave the walls of the prison, they would be able to support themselves, build their families and contribute to society.
The Ambassador said the donation was in fulfilment of a promise by the Embassy to support the prison after their request.
Mr Krull expressed the hope that the materials would be used for the intended purpose and maintained well to last longer, saying “I want to come back and see how the tools are used, what they have achieved, the furniture they have designed, learn about their experience and meet very skillful carpenters in a short time.”
Mr Jonathan Osei Owusu, Founder and Chief Executive Officer, POS Foundation said as players within the criminal justice sector, whilst they look for legal assistance for inmates, they were also looking at the rehabilitation and reintegration of these inmates into society.
“This is a critical component because when they come out after some of them have been convicted and served their sentences successfully, they need some level of rehabilitation, hence, the donation of the equipment,” he said.
He said, “we are giving them modern carpentry equipment, that would require less effort to get the work done.”
He urged the prison officials to support the inmates to learn how to use the machines to be able to do more work in terms of carpentry.
Mr Osei Owusu said with introduction to this equipment the inmates would acquire the needed skills to be better placed when they come out.
Assistant Director of Prisons (ADP) Patrick Thomas Seidu, the Eastern Regional Commander and Officer in Charge of the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, expressed appreciation to the Embassy and the Foundation for the support.
He said the support had come at the right time since most of the equipment they were using was outdated.
He said the prison was opened way back in 1960, hence, some of the tools they were using were old model tools, which were way outdated.
He, however, noted that along the line, they had some equipment that over time have deteriorated and then others broken down and “if we do not have a backup, that becomes another challenge.”
“We are very happy with this support from the Embassy because they are also giving us after-sales support services. And we can contact them at any time when we have challenges with the machines. I think this one will go a long way to at least change the dynamics at the carpentry shop,” he added
He called on corporate institutions to also support the prisons with other equipment like industrial tailoring machines to equip the tailoring workshop at the prison to be able to produce for the commercial market.
GNA