Vice President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has challenged the Ghana Prisons Service to use innovative ways to build the capacity and skills of inmates under their care.

He wants prison inmates to be rehabilitated for the world of work after doing time.

Dr Bawumia said this at the graduation ceremony of some 140 officer cadets at the Ghana Prisons Training School in Accra.

Capacity building of inmates, the Vice President said, will also help generate revenue to support government funding for prisons.

“I want to take this opportunity to challenge the prison administration to pursue innovative ways of building the skills of the prisoners,” he said.

He revealed that the government will deploy over 40 medical officers to the various prison facilities in the country to improve the health system in the prison to deliver quality health care to prisoners.

Dr Bawumia said the administration will do more to improve the health care needs of people who are doing time in prisons.

“Government is working closely with the service to improve the health system in our prisons. In this regard, over 40 medical personnel have been seconded from the Ghana Health Service and posted to various prison establishments,” he disclosed.

He said the government was making arrangements to supply operational and utility vehicles for the prison service.

“We have paid some attention to the police and we are going to turn our attention to the prison service in the area of the vehicle,” the Vice President said.

He also commended the prison officers for protecting the rights and dignity of the people in their care despite the numerous challenges they face and urged them to keep up the good work.

“Security is our collective responsibility. In the wake of crimes, the task of maintaining a safe community can’t be left to the law enforcement agents alone. Let us be on the lookout to observe and report unusual activities to fight crimes,” he advised.