Accra, Jan 14, GNA – Rosa Foundation, a non-governmental organisation, has called for a shift in Ghana’s custodial sentencing system towards rehabilitation and comprehensive prison reform.
The group advocates for alternative sentencing options for non-violent offenders, including community service, probation, and electronic monitoring, as vital steps toward a more effective and humane prison policy.
The Foundation made this appeal during a donation of food items worth GHC45,000 to the inmates of Akuse Prisons to commemorate the birthday of its founder, Madam Joyce Bawah Mogtari, which fell on January 1, 2025.
The donation also included an undisclosed amount to cover the medical expenses of a female inmate.
Speaking on behalf of Madam Mogtari, Ms. Della Russel Ocloo, a representative of the Foundation, stressed that the proposed reforms could help alleviate overcrowding in prisons while offering more constructive solutions for non-violent offenders.
“Rehabilitation and reintegration are crucial aspects of a just society,” Ms. Russel Ocloo said, emphasising the organisation’s dedication to supporting incarcerated individuals.
She noted that the food donation, though modest, was a meaningful contribution to the physical and mental well-being of the inmates.
The Foundation encouraged inmates to use their time in prison for personal growth, participate in educational programs, and prepare for successful reintegration into society.
“We believe everyone deserves a second chance, and we are committed to helping you turn this adversity into an opportunity for success,” Ms. Russel Ocloo added.
The Foundation also acknowledged the efforts of prison staff, expressing gratitude for their dedication to caring for and supporting inmates.
The female inmates, in turn, expressed their appreciation for the donation. They also appealed for support in obtaining fabrics and stiffening materials for producing fans, a vocational activity aimed at supplementing their feeding grants.
Many of them noted that they had not received visits from relatives since their incarceration.
Some observers of Ghana’s prisons have criticised the government’s daily feeding grant of GHC1.80 per inmate as insufficient to meet basic nutritional needs.
Madam Owusu Annor, an Assistant Director of Prisons, commended Rosa Foundation for its gesture.
She acknowledged the resource constraints faced by prison officials and appealed to individuals and organisations to extend their support in aiding the reformation of inmates.
GNA