Crime Check Foundation donates to Prison services

Crime Check Foundation (CCF)  has responded to the distress call of the Ghana Prisons Service with a donation of 100 pieces of student mattresses worth GHc 12,000.

The Prison Service had made an appeal for the donation as it sought to replace worn-out mattresses of inmates across the country.

With the country’s prisons overcrowded, inmates jostle for space with some sleeping on the bare floor. To deal with the situation, the service made an appeal for mattresses, which it hoped would also help prevent the spread of the dreaded COVID-19.

Presenting the mattresses to the Prisons Service, the Executive Director of CCF, Mr. Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, said the welfare of inmates should not be ignored especially during the COVID-19 period.

He said for the Prisons Service to effectively execute its mandate, it must be adequately equipped. He, therefore, urged other individuals and organisations to emulate the gesture.

“We thought it prudent to talk to donors to our foundation to quickly come to the aid of the Ghana Prisons Service. We have brought 100 pieces of mattresses to help our brothers and sisters in prisons, especially at this crucial time of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We know that for the Prisons Service to carry out its mandate of reformation and rehabilitation, it is the responsibility of all Ghanaians to come to the aid of the Service. We hope that other well-meaning Ghanaians will also follow suit,” he said.

Mr. Oppong Kwarteng, who also doubles as the Ambassador Extraordinaire of Ghana Prisons, appealed for support for the service.

“We would want to use this opportunity to appeal to Ghanaians all over the globe to help support the Ghana Prisons. They need sanitizers and other PPE’s. This is not the time we should not turn our back to them but rather fulfil godly responsibility which is enshrined in both the Bible and Quran on the need to go the aid of prisoners.”

Mr. Kwarteng assured the Service that the foundation will continue to support the Prisons.

Receiving the mattresses on behalf of the Ghana Prisons Service, the Director of Prisons in charge of Welfare, DOP Leopord Kwame Amoah Ansah, thanked CCF for its relentless support towards the work of the Service.

“You have been with us and you know the inside out of our facilities. So we are grateful that you are responding to our request to assist us. Certainly, you know the overcrowding situation in our facilities,” he said.

DOP Amoah Ansah said the donation was timely as it would help improve the well-being of inmates during this COVID-19 pandemic.

He appealed to corporate bodies to assist the Service to improve its service delivery and also called on the government to increase the feeding fee of inmates.

“I add my voice to corporate Ghana and indeed organisations which are interested in corrections to come on board and assist us. In addition to the PPE’s, we need nutritious meal for our inmates.

“The few medical infirmaries we have also need support to renovate and refurbish them, and we appeal to the government to push forward our request for an increase in the feeding rate of inmates,” he said.

CCF have been instrumental in facilitating the execution of the reformation and rehabilitation mandate of the Ghana Prisons Service through its support programmes that seek to improve the welfare of prison inmates.