The Ghana Prisons Service (GPS) is repositioning its vocational training programmes to equip inmates with marketable skills and practical business experience to improve their employment and entrepreneurship prospects after release.
The Service plans to establish five prison-based industries in tailoring, cabinetry, shoemaking, packaging and prefabrication, transforming existing skills training into commercially oriented ventures.
Mrs Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, Director-General of the GPS, said the initiative was intended to move beyond traditional vocational training by creating opportunities for inmates to apply their skills in real production environments.
She said simply teaching inmates how to perform a skill was insufficient, stressing the need to create an ecosystem where acquired skills could translate into sustainable livelihoods and income.
Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie announced this at the 2026 Image of a Woman Conference in Accra, held on the theme: “Empowered to Influence, Equipped to Lead, Created to Impact.”
She said the Service had realised that traditional training in areas such as carpentry and masonry needed to be redesigned to reflect the interests of young people and changing economic opportunities.
“We need to create an environment in which the skill can become a sustainable source of livelihood,” she said.
The Director-General said inmates would be encouraged to acquire two or three vocational skills to broaden their employment opportunities and enable them to pursue different forms of entrepreneurship after their release.
The Service is also introducing creative industries, including music, poetry, recital and video production, to enable inmates to develop skills based on their talents and interests.
She said the industrialisation programme formed part of the Service’s broader “Think Prisons 360 Degrees” approach, which seeks to address incarceration from prevention and rehabilitation to post-release support.
Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie said the Service was already producing some goods and exploring opportunities to expand production through partnerships with businesses and other stakeholders.
She cited the Service’s packaged drinking water, “Campers Mineral Water,” as an existing commercial venture, while initiatives were also underway with Ministries and other partners to produce items such as tables, chairs and windows using metal and wood.
The Service is also exploring mechanics and other production areas as part of efforts to diversify the skills available to inmates.
She said the GPS planned to dedicate a period every November to showcase products made by inmates, improve their quality, enhance their marketability and demonstrate their productive capabilities.
Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie therefore encouraged businesses with expertise in the identified sectors to partner the Service to expand the industrialisation programme and create stronger pathways from skills training to employment and enterprise development.
She said the Service is also strengthening its post-release support programmes, recognising that former inmates could face significant social and economic pressures when returning to society.
The support, she said, would help bridge the gap between rehabilitation inside prison and sustainable economic participation after release.
Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie also said the Service was engaging schools and churches to educate young people and encourage them to make positive life choices.
She added that the Service had launched initiatives to mobilise medicines and medical equipment for prison facilities and intended to sustain such support annually.
Prophetess Aku Xornam Adzraku-Kevi, Conference Convener and Executive Director of the Purim African Youth Development Platform (PAYDP), said collaboration among government, businesses, religious organisations, civil society and development partners was critical to advancing women’s empowerment.
She said PAYDP had worked over the years in reproductive health, livelihood empowerment, sexual and gender-based violence, and leadership capacity development for women and girls.
The conference, she said, provided an opportunity for stakeholders to share ideas that could strengthen future programmes in entrepreneurship, leadership and capacity development.
The Image of a Woman Conference 2026, organised by PAYDP and Glorious Abundant Ministries International (GAMI), brought together government officials, Members of Parliament, corporate executives, entrepreneurs, development partners, diplomats, faith leaders, students, media personalities and emerging women leaders.
The conference sought to promote leadership development, mentorship, entrepreneurship, networking and social transformation.
It also honoured veteran media personality Madam Rosemary Ardayfio for her contribution to journalism, media excellence and mentorship.
