Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has reaffirmed the government’s resolute commitment to transforming the Ghana Prisons Service into a humane, secure, and genuinely reformatory institution.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony for the Officer Cadet Intake 32 in Accra on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, the Vice President declared that the backbone of public safety rests on a well-resourced correctional system that honors the dignity of every Ghanaian, regardless of their circumstance.
The colorful ceremony saw the commissioning of 265 new officers – comprising 162 males and 103 females – into the senior officer corps as Superintendents of Prisons. Professor Opoku-Agyemang stressed that the officers’ calling rests on a delicate balance between Justice and Humanity, urging them to serve with integrity, compassion, and discipline.
“Every Ghanaian, regardless of circumstance deserves dignity, care and humane treatment,” she emphasized, setting the philosophical standard for the graduates and the entire service.
The Vice President highlighted tangible steps the administration is taking to immediately improve the welfare of inmates and address the chronic issues of malnutrition and overcrowding that often fuel unrest within the facilities. The most significant measure noted was the substantial increase in the daily feeding fee for inmates.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang confirmed that the daily feeding fee has been raised from GHS 1.80 to GHS 5.00 – a critical adjustment aimed at ensuring better nutrition and humane conditions across the facilities. “With this increase, over 14,000 inmates will benefit,” she noted, pointing to the government’s practical commitment to inmate welfare.
Beyond nutritional support, the Vice President noted the government’s decisive act on the issue of overcrowding.
“President Mahama’s amnesty for the 998 inmates, is a powerful statement of mercy and a reminder that true justice requires compassion and a belief in second chances. His act also forms part of our broader effort to decongest our facilities, enhance humane conditions and uphold the spirit of the correctional system”
Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang
Incarceration to Innovation
Professor Opoku-Agyemang commended the Prisons Service for its innovative approach to rehabilitation, particularly its agricultural projects, describing them as crucial steps toward achieving self-sufficiency and financial independence.
She went further, announcing ambitious initiatives underway that seek to turn “incarceration into innovation,” transforming the service into a major economic contributor. These ventures are designed to provide inmates with marketable skills, work experience, and a genuine hope for successful reintegration into society.
“Initiatives are underway to create the conditions for large scale manufacture of textiles, furniture, sanitary and construction products, therefore creating jobs and expanding internally generated revenue”
Vice President Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang
She reiterated that these projects underscore the government’s belief that rehabilitation must be coupled with economic empowerment, moving beyond simple custody to provide inmates with real, practical skills that aid national development.
To sustain and expand these reformatory efforts, the Vice President made a direct appeal to citizens, institutions, and development partners to invest in the Service’s newly launched Prisons Improvement and Sustainability Persuasive Fund.
“Every contribution, no matter how small, is a statement that every life can be rebuilt,” the Vice President urged. She beckoned the public to view any contribution to the fund not as charity, but as an investment in Ghana’s future security and peace.
In her final charge to Officer Cadet Intake 32, Professor Opoku-Agyemang emphasized the importance of public education to demystify the Ghana Prisons Service and called on the new Superintendents to carry forward the mandate of transforming lives, noting that their work contributes directly to national peace and security.
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