Inmates of James Camp Prison in Accra experienced a rare combination of compassion, healthcare support, and emotional connection ahead of Father’s Day.

Telecel Ghana Foundation organised a two-fold initiative at the male correctional centre: the donation of vital medical equipment and medication, and a moment of emotional reconnection through a family rekindling session dubbed Cell Time.

The medical donation, in partnership with Tobinco Pharmaceuticals, included essential items such as infrared thermometers, blood pressure monitors, forceps, drip stands, galipots and cannulas, plus medications for malaria, pain, and infections, which are common ailments within the prison.

Established in 1948, the James Camp Prison has since been a key facility for the safe custody and rehabilitation of male prisoners, particularly those serving the final stages of their sentencing.

Public Relations Officer of the facility, Superintendent Gladys Kittoe, receiving the donation together with senior officers, said the kind gesture tells inmates that people outside still care about them.

“The medical equipment will help stock our infirmary and help give better healthcare to the inmates, as well as boost the morale of welfare officers, catering to their health and well-being.

"It also shows that Telecel and people outside the prison walls are thinking about the inmates and that will inspire them to reform,” Supt. Kittoe said.

The donation was paired with Cell Time, an initiative that touched the emotional core of the prison experience. Designed to bridge the emotional gap between incarcerated men and their families, the session enabled inmates to call their fathers, sons, or male relatives.

“For men behind bars, Father’s Day can feel like a cruel reminder of what’s lost,” said Rita Agyeiwaa Rockson, Head of Foundation, Sustainability, and External Communications at Telecel Ghana.

“But our message is simple: your role as a father and your right to healthcare do not end with a prison sentence. This initiative is about seeing these men as fathers, as human beings, and as citizens who deserve care.”

Tobinco Pharmaceuticals, one of Ghana’s leading indigenous pharmaceutical companies, partnered with Telecel Ghana Foundation to supply the medications as part of their corporate social responsibility.

“Our contribution is an opportunity to give back in a meaningful way, and we believe prisoners also deserve access to healthcare to treat some of the common illnesses in this facility,” Desmond Lamptey, Marketing Manager of Tobinco Pharmaceuticals, said.

The prison facility, which currently has a population of 162 inmates, offers vocational training in vegetable and livestock farming, sewing and beadmaking, among others, to support inmates with skills that will ease their reintegration into society after release.