The Ashland Foundation Ghana has donated food items valued at GH¢40,000 to the Krachi Local Prison, as part of its Smile Agenda 2025 initiative aimed at supporting the welfare of inmates.

During the donation exercise, the Officer in Charge of the facility, Chief Superintendent of Prisons (CSP) Emmanuel Nyatuame, appealed for the establishment of vocational and skills training workshops to better equip inmates for life after incarceration.

CSP Nyatuame emphasised that imprisonment should extend beyond punishment to focus on reformation and reintegration.

He noted that inmates are committed to the prison system not to be abandoned, but to be transformed into responsible and productive members of society.

He lamented the absence of essential vocational training facilities, including carpentry and electrical workshops, describing the situation as a major challenge to effective rehabilitation.

According to him, access to practical skills would significantly reduce the risk of reoffending and ease the reintegration of inmates into society upon completion of their sentences.

The officer expressed appreciation to the Ashland Foundation for the timely donation and described the gesture as impactful.

He also called on individuals, non-governmental organisations and corporate bodies to support similar initiatives aimed at improving conditions within correctional facilities.

Presenting the items on behalf of the foundation, co-founder Bright Wonder reaffirmed Ashland Foundation’s commitment to serving marginalised and often overlooked communities.

He appealed to benevolent individuals and organisations to partner with the foundation to expand its humanitarian reach.

Mr Wonder noted that while many people are willing to give, few are prepared to extend their support to hard-to-reach places, adding that the foundation remains committed to going the extra mile to make a positive difference.

The items donated included bags of rice, maize and gari, assorted soft drinks, sachet water, cartons of canned fish, tomato puree and toilet rolls, among other essentials.

Ashland Foundation is a Ghana-based humanitarian and development-oriented non-governmental organisation focused on improving the lives of vulnerable and marginalised groups.

Established seven years ago, the foundation is known for its outreach programmes in prisons, orphanages, deprived communities and health facilities, with a strong emphasis on social inclusion, community empowerment and the restoration of dignity and hope.