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Ghana Prisons Service launches entrepreneurship, innovation training programme for inmates
As part of making inmates in the prisons productive in society when discharged, the Ghana Prisons Service has launched National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Training Programme (NEIP) at the Prisons Headquarters in Accra on Wednesday.
Dubbed “Entrepreneurship for Restoration Programme”, the partnership between the Ghana Prisons Service and NEIP would provide skills in various light manufacturing areas and entrepreneurship to inmates and Prison Officers.
The Director-General of Ghana Prisons Service, Mr. Isaac K. Egyir, in a remark said that the programme was a major intervention in the rehabilitation drive of the Service.
He noted that, “the partnership programme answers partly, the call by the Minister of Interior on the need for the service to prioritise the reformation and rehabilitation needs of inmates.”
He said it would serve as an intervention to rehabilitate inmates to ensure public safety through the acquisition of vocational skills for the sustainability of inmates when they were set free.
“The training programmes under this intervention have been purposely structured in a way that inmates who benefit and are certified to be competent in particular skill sets, would be given “starter packs” upon discharge from prison,” he said.
These “starter packs”, are intended to set them up on a path to a self-sustaining and income generating enterprise, while inmates who have more time to do in prison would also be given similar packages to enable them to ply their skills in prison.
Mr. Egyir commended the Chief Executive Officer of the National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP)Mr. Kofi Ofosu Nkansah for finding the inmates worthy beneficiaries of this training.
The Minister of the Interior, Mr. Ambrose Dery, who launched the “Entrepreneurship for Restoration” programme said the training was expected to give a significant boost to efforts already made by the Ghana Prisons Service to provide rehabilitation programmes for inmates.
Considering the nature of the programme, he noted that on a broader scale, the inmates who benefitted from the training would also be contributing towards Ghana’s long-term strategic vision of consolidating its middle-income status and further building an industry-driven economy.
The training modules under the programme are soap and detergent making, juice processing, grain and cereals packaging, preparation of yoghurt, making of cosmetics among other skills tailored to meet the needs of inmates.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
News
Minister of Health appeals to Tamale Teaching Hospital striking doctors
The Minister of Health, Kwabena Mintah Akandoh has appealed to the striking doctors at the Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) to calll off the suspension and come to the negotiation table.
However, he refused to apologise as demanded by the striking doctors.
The doctors after a meeting yesterday have withdrawn emergency services following the dismissal of the Chief Executive Officer of the hospital.
This follows an unannounced visit to the hospital by the Minister on Tuesday.
The Minister made the appeal when addressing the media in Accra on Today, April 24 2025.
According to him, dialogue is the only way out to resolve the issue, adding that he was ready collaborate with them.
“I am prepared for us to come around the table and discuss whatever we need to discuss,” Mr Akandoh said.
“My humble appeal to my wonderful medical doctors and health professionals at Tamale Teaching Hospital is that I am the first person to take care of your interests. Therefore, let’s call off the strike and let’s all regroup and strategise going forward,” he concluded.
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Health Minister donates medical equipment to Tamale Teaching Hospital, pledges commitment to reforms
The Minister for Health Kwabena Miintah Akandoh has reiterated government’s commitment to address long-standing challenges in the health sector, describing the health system as one that requires urgent reform and collective responsibility.
He made these remarks during a donation of some essential medical equipment and supplies to the Tamale Teaching Hospital on behalf of the Ministry of Health.
The donation included a wide range of equipment such as ECG machines, ICU ventilators, cardiac monitors, anesthesia machines, infant incubators, and essential
Consumables amounting to about 35 items.
Among the items highlighted were
Emergency Health Equipment (EHE) sets, nebulizer sets, and medical-grade towels.
The Health Minister acknowledged the difficult working conditions health professionals continue to endure and emphasized that government efforts alone would not be enough to resolve systemic issues.
He called for unity across the health sector and urged all stakeholders, including medical doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, to work together to ensure that the country’s limited resources are used efficiently.
He noted that the wellbeing of the ordinary Ghanaian should be central to healthcare delivery, cautioning against practices that marginalize the underprivileged due to resource scarcity. According to him, every Ghanaian life is valuable, and the system must reflect that belief in both policy and practice.
Mr.Akandoh stressed that his leadership approach is rooted in humility, collaboration, and respect for all health workers. While acknowledging that change may come with challenges, he maintained that cooperation is key to achieving lasting improvements in the sector.
The Minister pleaded with health professionals in the Tamale Teaching Hospital to call off the strike and regroup to strategize on more effective ways to address their concerns through dialogue and collaboration with relevant authorities.
The donation to the Tamale Teaching Hospital forms part of a broader national initiative to modernize medical infrastructure and enhance service delivery in Ghana’s healthcare.
