Prisons Council Engages Interior Minister on Key Challenges Facing the Service

The Ghana Prisons Council, led by the Chair, Apostle Alexander Kumi Larbi, paid a courtesy visit to the Minister for the Interior, Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, to discuss critical issues affecting the service and explore avenues for stronger collaboration. The meeting, held at the Ministry of the Interior, focused on forging partnerships to effectively execute the Council’s mandate.

In his remarks, the Council Chair reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to supporting the Ghana Prisons Service. He highlighted the need for ongoing consultations with the Director-General and her team, as well as the presentation of evidence-based overviews of the service’s operations.

Apostle Kumi Larbi expressed gratitude to the Minister for the provision of vehicles, including pickups, buses, and a command vehicle, handed over to the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service last year. While commending Government for these deliveries, the Council Chair appealed for the acquisition of additional vehicles to further address persistent operational difficulties, including transportation constraints caused by infrastructure limitations and the Service’s demanding mandate.

In response, Hon. Muntaka thanked the Council for the visit and for sharing their thoughts, vision, and initiatives. He acknowledged that the concerns raised are issues the Ministry continues to prioritise, with notable progress being made.

The Minister stressed that prisons remain a pivotal focus area for Government. He assured the Council that all matters presented are under active consideration. He highlighted His Excellency the President’s ongoing efforts to address accommodation challenges across all security services and emphasised the importance of prioritising salary harmonisation.

Hon. Muntaka reiterated support for fortifying prison facilities and expressed commitment to working with private organisations through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) as a sustainable approach. He also noted progress on related legislative efforts, including the Parole and Community Service Bill.