Story by Dennis Bebane
The Upper West Regional Command of the Ghana Prison Service has expressed interest in participating in the government’s poultry project, popularly known as “Nkoko Nketenkete”.
The Regional Commander of Prisons, Deputy Director of Prisons (DDP) Alhaji Ousmane Tasembedo, noted that the project would address the nutritional needs of inmates.
Mr. Tasembedo, who was speaking to GBC at Baayiri in the Wa East District during a visit to the Baayiri Prisons Farm, explained that the project could generate revenue to complement the government’s efforts to support the various prisons.
A greater portion of the 137-acre prison farm project, which was initiated in the early 1990s to enhance inmates’ nutrition and agricultural skills as part of their rehabilitation, has been left uncultivated. Over the past two years, only 30 acres have been cultivated, leaving the rest of the land untouched.
The Upper West Regional Commander of Prisons, Alhaji Ousmane Tasembedo, said the underutilization of land is due to a lack of funds, inputs, and tractors.
He expressed concern about the daily feeding rate per inmate, which is one cedi eighty pesewas, saying it is inadequate. He stressed that the poultry project could help bridge the gap.
He also appealed to the government and philanthropists to support the renovation of the Baayiri Camp Prison structure and other facilities to enable them to participate in the poultry project.
DDP Alhaji Ousmane Tasembedo commended the Centre for Indigenous Knowledge and Organisational Development (CIKOD) and Antika Company for their support in revamping the farm.
