Accra: Ambassador Extraordinaire of the Ghana Prisons Service (GPS), Mr. Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, has called for the urgent deployment of scanners and modern surveillance gadgets to curb the influx of contraband into correctional facilities. He emphasized that the smuggling of illicit items into prison compounds undermines rehabilitation efforts and compromises national security.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Kwarteng, who received the honorary title in 2016 for his advocacy through the Crime Check Foundation (CCF), stressed the need for advanced technologies during an interview at the commissioning of a poultry farm at Nsawam Female Prison. The farm, funded by Rabotec Ghana Limited, aims to enhance inmate feeding, vocational training, and rehabilitation under the GPS Director-General’s Kitchen Support Project.
Mr. Kwarteng highlighted the presence of illicit substances and prohibited items within prison yards as a threat to rehabilitation efforts and institutional credibility. He criticized outdated inspection protocols and manual checking systems, which he described as vulnerable to manipulation. “Manual checking is porous. It can be manipulated. That’s why scanners and advanced surveillance systems must be prioritized,” he stated.
He further noted that closed-circuit television (CCTV) alone is insufficient to detect concealed items. “CCTV can’t capture everything. You need scanners to detect what’s hidden in bread or other items,” he said. Mr. Kwarteng warned that without robust security protocols, prison facilities risk becoming ‘open houses’ that erode their core mandate.
He called for substantial investment in modern technologies such as biometric scanners, body imaging systems, and digital tracking to enhance public confidence and align Ghana’s correctional system with international standards. “Rehabilitation is not just about confinement. It’s about creating a secure, disciplined environment where transformation is possible,” he said.
Speaking on the poultry project, Mr. Kwarteng emphasized the importance of proactive rehabilitation programs. “We must begin to think differently. Ventures like this poultry project are essential to reducing reoffending,” he said, noting plans to replicate 20 additional projects within two years to support the GPS Director-General’s agenda.
He urged the media to contribute to the GPS advocacy reform efforts and highlighted the potential for constructive coverage to attract investment and promote ideas such as prison tourism. The poultry farm aligns with the government’s ‘nkoko nkitinkiti’ transformation agenda, aiming to promote food self-sufficiency, generate revenue for the Prisons Service, and support inmate reintegration through agriculture-based rehabilitation.
Director-General of GPS, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, described the poultry farm as a reflection of institutional renewal and strategic foresight. She appealed for continued public and private sector support to expand the initiative, which targets ten prison facilities, including Nsawam Complex and others, with a projected output of at least 200,000 birds.
Deputy Director of Prisons, Mrs. Victoria Adzawuda, Officer-in-Charge of Nsawam Female Prison, welcomed the project as a boost to inmate welfare, providing a reliable source of poultry products to support feeding, rehabilitation, and vocational training, while generating revenue for the Service. She commended Rabotec Ghana Limited and CCF for their support in bringing the vision to life.