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0 The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has handed over three new buses to the Ghana Prisons Service to improve the transportation of inmates to courts, hospitals, and rehabilitation centres across the country.
The vehicles, a Toyota Coaster, a Hyundai County, and an Ashok Leyland, were donated through the support of the National Security Secretariat, which provided one bus, and Maripoma Company Limited, which contributed two.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony, Mr Mohammed-Mubarak said the buses symbolise more than just mobility.
“These buses are instruments of efficiency, safety, and dignity,” he said, reaffirming the government’s commitment to modernising the correctional system and enhancing rehabilitation programmes in line with President John Mahama’s GH₵1 billion retooling pledge for the security sector.
The Minister also announced a major increase in the daily feeding allocation for inmates, from GH₵1.80 to GH₵5.00, a move he said was aimed at improving nutrition and the welfare of over 14,000 inmates nationwide.
“While I had hoped for an even higher increment, this marks a long-overdue departure from a rate that had remained stagnant for far too long,” he noted.
The Interior Minister commended the National Security Secretariat and Maripoma Company Limited for their support and urged other corporate bodies, institutions, and individuals to contribute to improving prison infrastructure, training, and rehabilitation programmes.
The Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Patience Baffoe-Bonnie (Esq.), expressed deep appreciation for the gesture.
She described it as “an investment in human dignity,” noting that the donation would enhance the Service’s rehabilitation and reintegration efforts.
“Hon. Muntaka has shown himself to be a true advocate and champion for the Ghana Prisons Service, giving us confidence and stability to stand on our feet,” she said.
