The Government has given approval for the construction of two new prison camp at Forifori in the Afram Plains and Akwasiase in the Ahafo Ano District of the Ashanti Region.

It is projected that more camp prisons will be developed subsequently in order to decongest walled prisons and increase agricultural output.

Mr Richard Kuuire, the Director General of the Ghana Prisons Service, announced this at the opening of this year’s Regional Commanders Conference in Accra yesterday.

He said the main focus of the service for this year will be to accelerate progress in agricultural products and vocational training for prisoners.

To this end, he reminded the officers that all existing rules and regulations, especially with regard to accountability for resources allocated to agriculture and industry, will be strictly enforced.

Mr Kuuire expressed grave concern about acts of indiscipline and unethical behaviour on the part of some officers who, for intance, engage in negative practices such as trafficking drugs with inmates and leaving prisoners unescorted.

He warned that such negative tendencies will not be tolerated and urged all regional commanders to adopt firm measures within their areas of jurisdiction to address these problems which tend to put the service into disrepute.

The Director General said as part of activities to improve the service, all regional commanders will be detached from the command of prisons as is the case with sister services such as the Police, Immigration and the Fire Service.

This measure is to enhance efficient service delivery and also enable regional commanders to effectively supervise all prisons in their regions.

Mr Kuuire said although the service has chalked up some successes, there are still a number of operational difficulties facing it, adding that “funding for the service’s activities is still woefully inadequate.”

The Deputy Minister of the Interior, Mr Kwadwo Affram Asiedu, assured the officers that the government is fully aware of the constraints facing the service and will address them along with the problems of other agencies under the ministry.

He commended the director-general and his officers for their hardwork and dedication and assured them of the ministry’s support towards the realisation of their objectives.