Ghana Prisons Service Partners with State Housing Company

The Ghana Prisons Service has begun discussions with the State Housing Company (SHC) on a strategic partnership to address long-standing accommodation challenges affecting officers and inmates.

The discussions were initiated during a courtesy visit by the Director-General of Prisons (DGP), Mrs Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, to the Managing Director of SHC on Monday in Accra.

Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie revealed that only 25 per cent of officers currently live in government-provided housing, many of which are in poor condition, and the remaining 75 per cent reside in privately arranged accommodations, often far from their duty stations.

She stated that the situation not only poses security risks but also undermines the morale and welfare of personnel.

She further underscored the urgent need for affordable and dignified housing solutions for officers, including post-retirement housing packages.

“The current residences of Service Directors do not befit their rank and responsibilities,” she added.

The Director-General also introduced the Prisons Improvement and Sustainability Pesewa Fund (PISPES), designed to attract grants, donor support, and corporate social responsibility contributions to enhance the Service’s infrastructure.

The Managing Director of SHC, Mr John Sherif Bawa, expressed the company’s readiness to collaborate with the Ghana Prisons Service in providing decent and secure housing for both officers and inmates.

He assured that SHC’s technical team would begin working with their Prisons Service counterparts immediately to fast-track the initiative and pledged support for the PISPES Fund.

The Chairman of the Prisons Service Council, Apostle Ing. Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, expressed appreciation to Mr Bawa and his team for the positive engagement and urged both institutions to strengthen their partnership for the benefit of officers and inmates nationwide.

Judith Twumwaa, ISD