President John Dramani Mahama has announced that the Ghana Prisons Service will be supported to engage in large-scale farming, including poultry and vegetable production, as part of efforts to make the service more productive and self-sustaining.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Damongo Prison Camp, President Mahama said the government will provide fertilisers, tractors, and mechanised farming equipment over the next three years to boost productivity across all prison camps.
“The prison service is going to receive agricultural tractors and implements so that they can activate their prison camps,” he stated.
The President explained that the initiative forms part of his government’s 24-hour economy policy, under which the Prisons Service will also operate industries around the clock, engaging inmates in manufacturing, sewing of school uniforms, furniture making, and agro-processing for both government use and the open market.
“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 said
In addition, President Mahama announced an increase in the daily feeding rate for inmates from ₵1.80 to ₵5.00, describing it as an act of justice and respect for human dignity.
“This is not charity; it is justice,”
“It reflects our belief that dignity should never be dependent on one’s circumstances,” he emphasised.
The commissioning of the Damongo Prison Camp is part of a broader plan to modernise Ghana’s correctional system, focusing on rehabilitation, skill development, and productive engagement rather than punishment alone.
