THEY HAVE CHOSEN THE RIGHT PROFESSION -BEN QUAYE

Look on the faces of these young officers , it expresses confidence, enthausiasm and optimism. They have really chosen the right profession and will “be role models in peoples lives only if they conduct themselves responsibly “. This was contained in a speech read by the Director of Prisons Ben Quaye on the occasion of the passing out parade of recruit course 105 last week in Accra. The graduands were 393 in number comprising of 269 men and 124 females. Through training they have instill in them discipline, sense of responsibility, mentally and physical readiness as well as selfless devotion to duty. The officers were trained in various disciplines such as reception duties prison duties, interpersonal skills, first aid among others. “ Let me remind you that as Prison officers your role is to maintain internal security of the country”. As officers some of you will be deployed to provide security at various polling stations across the country. “I advice you to be discipline and vigilant in discharging your duties, non- of you should compromise your position of consideration other than your national assignment “. He said the prison service would contribute it cota to making this years election a success. The prisons service is stepping up interventions in the agriculture and industrial sector to improve the quality lives of inmates in its custody. Some of the inmates have been trained in various vocations as a revamping mechanism by the service to generate internal revenue to support government’s expenditure. The Director stressed that it was important as citizens to accept back discharged inmates as its records showed that 90.6% of total prison population for the year were aged between 18 and 45 years. These men and women who are in their productive years still have the capacity to help in building our nation.He cautioned them that, to this end any act of brutalities and callousness on the side of any officer will not be tolerated, remember the service has no culture of shielding recalcitrant officers. It will continue to purge misconduct that contravenes service regulations and national law. Mr. Quaye said as part of service reformation and rehabilitation educational programmes for inmates both formal and informal have started on pilot bases at Nsawam medium prison, Kumasi, Wa and Tamale Central prison as well as some prison establishment in the central region. It is aimed at providing function literacy for the illiterates; continuing education for the school dropouts and training inmates in Information Communication Technology (ICT). He congratulated all Felix Kofi Aggor for been the overall best recruit officer and other award winners