President John Dramani Mahama has announced a major expansion of the Ghana Prisons Service’s role in national development, revealing plans to support the Service to undertake large-scale farming, poultry, and vegetable production as part of a wider prison reform programme.

Speaking at the commissioning of the Damongo Prison Camp on Wednesday, October 5, President Mahama said the initiative is designed to make the Prison Service a key contributor to Ghana’s 24-hour economy, while improving the welfare and rehabilitation of inmates.

“The Ghana Prisons Service will actively contribute to the 24-hour economy by running prison industries around the clock. This will include manufacturing, sewing school uniforms, producing furniture, agro-processing, and other goods, both for government use and for the open market.”

He explained that the initiative would help generate income to sustain the Service while equipping inmates with employable skills for life after their release.

“This initiative will not only generate income to sustain the Service but will also equip inmates with practical skills for life after their release,” he added.

President Mahama said the government is providing fertiliser, agricultural machinery and mechanised equipment to boost the productivity of prison farms over the next three years.

“The Prison Service is being supported to engage in large-scale farming, including poultry and vegetable production. The government is providing fertiliser and mechanised equipment to improve productivity over the next three years. The Service will receive tractors and other implements so that they can activate their prison camps.”

He also revealed that the daily feeding allowance for inmates has been significantly increased from GH₵1.80 to GH₵5.00, describing the move as a matter of justice and human dignity rather than charity.

“We’ve increased the daily feeding rate for inmates from 1GH₵ 80pesewas to 5GH₵. This will provide better nutrition for those incarcerated. This is not charity, it is justice. It reflects our belief that dignity should never be dependent on one’s circumstances.”

The President outlined a comprehensive prison reform agenda that aims to modernise Ghana’s correctional system, improve infrastructure, and promote rehabilitation rather than punishment.

“Our administration’s prison reform agenda rests on a fundamental belief that no Ghanaian should be stripped of their humanity even when they are in prison,” he stated.

“We are implementing far-reaching reforms which include expanding the use of alternative sentencing for minor and non-violent offences, reviewing bail conditions to avoid undue hardship, especially for the poor, and introducing a parole system to reward good behaviour and accelerate reintegration.”

As part of these reforms, President Mahama said his government is working to complete the 800-inmate capacity remand prison at Nsawam, which was initiated by his previous administration in 2016 but has since been left abandoned.

He added that the government is also developing modern correctional centres for men, women, and juveniles, enhancing the conditions of service for prison officers, and expanding rehabilitation programmes connected to sustainable livelihoods and employment after release.