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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
People of Volta Region will soon have a sigh of relief- Roads and Highways Minister
The Minister for Roads and Highways has assured that the people of Volta Region will soon have a sigh of relief.
This follows an update from the Ministry on the Ho-Aflao Road and Weta – Afiadenyigba – Havedzi Road
The government has taken steps to fulfill its promise to reconstruct the Ho-Aflao and the Weta – Afiadenyigba – Havedzi Road.
Yesterday, the Minister, Kwame Agbodza, accompanied by the deputy minister, Alhassan Suhuyini, led a team of engineers from the Ministry of Roads and Highways and the Ghana Highway Authority to assess the conditions of the roads and plans for urgent intervention.
Mr.Agbodza indicated the whereas the Ho-Aflao Road will be reconstructed under the Big Push Agenda of President John Mahama, the Weta – Afiadenyigba – Havedzi Road will be funded through the Roads Ministry’s 2025 budgetary allocation.
The Minister further explained that feasibility studies, drawings, and designs for the Ho bypass are almost complete, with procurement and construction set to begin soon.
News
Gender Minister participate in 2025 IWD Women’s Dialogue
On Saturday March 8, 2025, the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, participated in the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) Women’s Dialogue.
The event, held under the patronage of Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, brought together policymakers, leaders, and advocates to discuss the theme: “Resetting the Agenda for Women: Accelerating Action on Women’s Rights, Equity, and Empowerment.”
The dialogue aimed to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while addressing the challenges they continue to face.
It also provided a platform for stakeholders to engage in discussions that would accelerate action on women’s rights and empowerment, fostering collaboration on gender equality initiatives.
Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang emphasized the need for inclusive and sustained efforts to promote women’s leadership, economic empowerment, and educational advancement.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey reiterated the urgency of accelerating action on women’s rights, equity, and empowerment.
She acknowledged the progress made in advancing gender equality but stressed that significant challenges remain, particularly in education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
She emphasized that discussions should go beyond identifying these challenges to taking deliberate and transformative actions to address them. She called for concrete steps to turn commitments into lasting change, urging stakeholders to work together to develop policies, shift societal norms, and economically and politically empower women.
Underscoring the theme “Resetting the Agenda for Women: Accelerating Action on Women’s Rights, Equity, and Empowerment,” the Minister called for a renewed commitment from all stakeholders to move beyond rhetoric and drive real, measurable change.
She urged policymakers, civil society, and the private sector to collaborate on initiatives that empower women economically, challenge societal norms, and create inclusive spaces for women’s voices to be heard.
The Minister further emphasized that:
“Gender equality is not just about rights—it is about ensuring that women have the power and resources to shape their own destinies and contribute meaningfully to national development.”
She reaffirmed President John Dramani Mahama’s Government commitment to advocating for gender equity and encouraged meaningful dialogue to inspire actionable strategies.
In conclusion, she called on all participants to actively contribute to shaping a future where women’s rights are fully realized, emphasizing that every action counts in achieving true gender equality.
