The Ghana Prisons Service (GPS) is planning to establish five prison-based industries to equip inmates with marketable skills and support their reintegration.

The initiative will transform existing vocational training programmes into commercially oriented ventures in tailoring, cabinetry, shoemaking, packaging and prefabrication, to enable inmates to gain practical experience and earn income.

Mrs Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, Director-General of the GPS, announced this at the 2026 Image of a Woman Conference in Accra on Saturday, held on the theme: “Empowered to Influence, Equipped to Lead, Created to Impact.”

She said the Service had realised that traditional skills training, including carpentry and masonry, needed to be redesigned to reflect the interests and economic realities of young people.

Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie said simply teaching an inmate how to perform a skill was not enough, adding that the Service needed to create an environment in which the skill could become a sustainable source of livelihood.

She said the Service was also introducing creative areas such as music, poetry, recital and video production to enable inmates to develop skills suited to their talents and interests.

Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie said inmates would be encouraged to acquire two or three different vocational skills to improve their prospects for employment or entrepreneurship after release.

She said the industrialisation programme formed part of the Service’s broader “Think Prisons 360 Degrees” approach, which sought to address incarceration challenges from prevention through rehabilitation and post-release support.

Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie said the Service was also exploring mechanics and other production areas and seeking partnerships with businesses and other stakeholders.

She said the Service was already producing some goods, including its packaged drinking water, “Campers Mineral water”, and had begun working with Ministries and other partners on initiatives involving the production of items such as tables, chairs and windows using metal and wood.

Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie said the Service planned to dedicate a period every November to showcase its products, improve their quality, elevate and make them marketable, and demonstrate the productive abilities of inmates.

She encouraged businesses with expertise in the identified areas to partner the Service to expand the programme.

Mrs Baffoe-Bonniel said the Service was also strengthening post-release support because the transition from prison to freedom could expose former inmates to significant social and economic pressures.

She said the Service was engaging schools and churches to educate and encourage young people to make positive life choices.

Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie said the Service had launched initiatives to mobilise medicines and medical equipment for prison facilities and intended to sustain such support annually.

Prophetess Aku Xornam Adzraku-Kevi, Conference Convener and Executive Director of the Purim African Youth Development Platform (PAYDP), said the decision to bring together

stakeholders from different sectors was deliberate because women’s empowerment required collaboration beyond one institution or sector.

She said PAYDP had worked for years in reproductive health, livelihood empowerment, sexual and gender-based violence, and leadership capacity for women and girls.

Prophetess Adzraku-Kevi, also General Overseer of Glorious Abundant Ministries International (GAMI), said the conference provided an opportunity for religious leaders, development partners, civil society organisations, government representatives and other stakeholders to share ideas that could strengthen the organisation’s future programmes.

“I believe that we’ve been training women and girls for years, and a lot of the things we are hearing will enhance our mind, our thoughts, and further help us to build the capacity of our women and girls,” she said.

Prophetess Adzraku-Kevi encouraged women to rise above barriers and pursue leadership opportunities, saying there was nothing too small for them to achieve.

She also called on policymakers to continue improving opportunities for women and noted the growing representation of women in Parliament.

The Image of a Woman Conference 2026, organised by PAYDP and GAMI, was inspired by Prophetess Adzraku-Kevi’s book, “The Image of a Woman.”

The conference sought to inspire and empower women while creating opportunities for leadership development, mentorship, entrepreneurship, networking and social transformation.

It brought together government officials, Members of Parliament, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, development partners, diplomats, faith leaders, students, media personalities and emerging women leaders.

The conference also honoured veteran media personality Madam Rosemary Ardayfio for her contribution to journalism, media excellence and mentorship.