Officers of the Ghana Prisons Service who are on leave and presently in the country have been asked to suspend their leave and report immediate deployment.

Superintendent Vitalis Aiyeh, Chief Public Relations Officer of the Service explained that the move is one of several provisions made by the Service to beef up security during the Yuletide and New Year festivities.

In a release issued in Accra Friday, the Service wished all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year stating its “resolve to continue to effectively and efficiently deliver on its mandate of safe custody and welfare, reformation and rehabilitation of prisoners to ensure public safety during this festive period.”

Supt Aiyeh said such security provisions have been made to ensure that prisoners also get to enjoy the festivities in peace, without any security concerns.

“All staff who are engaged in outdoor labour, industrial and farming activities should be withdrawn to strengthen security in the yard.

“All Prison Security Committees should be made functional and operational for the period,” he said.

He added that “members of the Inner and Outer Perimeter Security Unit, as well as the Intelligence Teams, should be extra vigilant, whilst the operation teams should be put on standby to deal swiftly with any security threat during the season.”

According to him, members of the Prisons Directorate will pay unannounced supervisory visits to the stations during the season.

He said the prisons are open to the public for visits during the festive period encouraging families and friends of prisoners to visit and donate items to them.

Religious bodies/Groups can also visit and have fellowships/talks with inmates, as well as donate items to them, however, not more than 2 of their members will be allowed into the yard at a go.

“It shall be an offence against prison security for any visitor to carry into the prison yard any item considered as prohibited. Some of these articles include guns and, narcotic drugs, alcoholic beverages, cigarettes, mobile phone and its accessories, canned items, sharp objects, dangerous implements, cameras, drones etc.,” he added.