The Kumasi Central Prison harbouring over 1,800 inmates embarks on efforts to keep inmates useful while being trained into artisans to equip them with skills of livelihood upon their release.

Inadequacy of the necessary tools and equipment for the training phase hinders the progress of efforts to reduce and eradicate recidivism.

Recognising this, the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) foundation Cohort 5 Awardees at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) have donated vocational and industrial equipment to the Kumasi Central Prisons Skill Training Centre.

The items will replace outdated equipment and provide the lacking equipment at the facility to boost inmates' training.

The donation, valued at over Ghc 35,000, is part of the awardees' social responsibilities as beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme.

The items include industrial machines, sewing machines, leather works and carpentry tools, Kente sewing machines, blacksmithing machines, stationary, desktop computers, Printers, and academic instruments.

The items will tool the carpentry, hairdressing, weaving shop, electrical shop, and leather-making shops in the prison facility.

The Foundation Team leader, Richmond Danso says equipping the facility will facilitate their training, and reduce recidivism among inmates.

He indicated the gesture is aimed at equipping the inmates with vocational and technical skills. 

“The rationale behind this is to help the prison facility improve the vocational and technical training they give to innate to be able to come out positive when they return from prison.

“This donation was made possible by individual contributions. I would call on a similar organisation to emulate and help reduce recidivism,” he said.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Prince Boamah, from the technical unit of the Kumasi Technical Unit, acknowledged the gesture of the GNPC foundation scholars.

“All of the inmates are engaged in one thing or the other. This is to make them useful. But the setback had been that the inmates don't have enough equipment. And the scholars of GNPC heard our call and have come to our aid. We are glad that they have been able to provide a lot of relief for almost all the shops we have here,” he said.