The Ghana Prisons Service is expected to assume an expanded role in national development efforts by participating in the production of sanitary pads, school furniture, and uniforms under various government initiatives.
The move is part of a broader strategy to integrate correctional facilities into key social interventions.
Interior Minister Hon. Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka made the announcement during the launch of the Government Accountability Series on Monday, July 14, 2025.
He revealed that advanced discussions are underway between the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Education to formalize the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
According to Mr. Muntaka, the proposed collaboration will see prison inmates produce a significant portion of materials supplied under major government programmes. Specifically, inmates will contribute to the manufacturing of 20 percent of the sanitary pads distributed under the Free Sanitary Pad Initiative, 30 percent of school desks, and 30 percent of school uniforms provided to public basic and secondary schools across the country.
He explained that the initiative is aligned with ongoing reforms within the prison system aimed at equipping inmates with employable skills while also contributing to broader national priorities.
These reforms, the Minister noted, are designed to improve rehabilitation outcomes and enhance the reintegration of inmates into society upon their release.
The Free Sanitary Pad Distribution Programme, one of the key initiatives under which the Ghana Prisons Service will contribute, was launched in April 2025 by President John Dramani Mahama. The programme is focused on improving menstrual hygiene, increasing school attendance among adolescent girls, and promoting gender equality. It targets girls in public schools from Primary 5 to Senior High School (SHS).
Mr. Muntaka also indicated that the inclusion of the Ghana Prisons Service in the production chain is expected to lower operational costs for government, increase the availability of essential school resources, and provide structured vocational training to inmates.
He highlighted that this strategy reflects the government’s emphasis on restorative justice and the productive engagement of inmates in national development efforts.
The Minister reiterated that the state has a responsibility to not only correct but also empower individuals within the correctional system.
