Interior and Education Ministries signs MoU to produce sanitary pads, school uniforms and furniture

The Ministries of the Interior and Education have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to enable the Ghana Prisons Service to produce and supply at least 30 per cent of sanitary pads, school uniforms and furniture for schools across the country.

The signing ceremony, held at the Ministry of the Interior in Accra, forms part of the government’s broader agenda to strengthen local production, ensure value for money in public procurement, and support inmate rehabilitation while meeting critical needs within the education sector.

Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, described the initiative as a deliberate policy decision that places education at the heart of national development.

He said anchoring the production of essential educational materials within state-owned institutions would help improve efficiency, promote transparency, and guarantee timely supply.

According to him, the initiative is expected to deliver multiple benefits, including skills development for inmates, income generation, improved rehabilitation outcomes, and a reduction in recidivism.

He announced that a five-member implementation committee would be established to oversee the effective rollout of the agreement, commending the Ghana Prisons Service for embracing its expanded developmental role.

On his part, Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, said the MoU redefines the role of the Ghana Prisons Service by integrating it into the education value chain.

He noted that recidivism—relapse into criminal behaviour, remains a major concern and stressed the importance of engaging inmates in structured, productive activities that equip them with employable skills.

He added that the initiative adopts a value-chain approach rooted in indigenous and local production, including the establishment of productive units within prison facilities.

Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, described the agreement as a game changer, saying it positions the Service as a key contributor to national production and development.

She said the ultimate objective is to enhance public safety by breaking the cycle of reoffending and supporting inmates to reintegrate into society as productive, law-abiding citizens after incarceration.