Sanitation in Accra: prisoners will take on the task of cleaning up the city

Regional News from Monday, April 15, 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

2019-04-15

Prison authorities in Ghana and Zoomlion Ghana Limited have signed a memorandum of understanding providing for outgoing prisoners to clean the city of Accra.

The initiative, which is in the pilot stage, is part of the President's vision to beautify the city and make Ghana the most beautiful country in Africa.

Superintendent Vitalis Aiyeh, Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Prison Service in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Monday, said that according to the memorandum of understanding, the detainees were weeding, detoxifying and cleaning the area. city.

He added that this initiative was also in line with the vision of the Director General of the Service to beautify the various barracks and give it a new lease of life.

The PRO has stated that this arrangement, approved by Parliament, should allow prisoners to channel their energies towards productive work aimed at cleansing the city and making it beautiful.

As part of the agreement, the inmates would work five days a week, with Zoomlion providing them with the necessary logistics, including trucks, shovels, wheelbarrows, reflectors and nose guards, while the Service would also provide detainees and prepare them for escort. the different sites.

He added that until now, the detainees had been able to clean up Kawokudi up to the Kanda High Way, Electoral Commission, Accra Mental Hospital and Ridge Roundabout. .

Other areas include the National Theater until the junction of the University of Accra Professional Studies (UPSA), Independence Square, Teshie, La Hospital. General, the airport roundabout up to American House and the Dzorwulu high way.

He added that, thanks to the funds generated internally and sanctioned by Parliament, an inmate who was engaged in these activities would receive GH ¢ 10.00 per day, and that 60% of what prisoners would generate would be paid. to the Service and reimbursed at 40%. on the chest of the government.

Superintendent Aiyeh said that if the initiative succeeds, it would be replicated in regional capitals.

He stated that the detainees engaged in this cleansing exercise were pbadionate prisoners in all corners of the jails and had been carefully examined and profiled before being badigned to the exercise.

"All the detainees for this particular exercise were transferred from other prisons to James Camp Prison and served one-third of their sentence and showed a sign of good behavior," he added.

Superintendent Aiyeh stated that all detainees, who pose a threat, could not be part of the program and "we will not make people, who are murderers, rapists, armed robbers, 39, badociate with the public.

He stated that the candidates chosen by management for the program did not pose any risk to the public.

He badured the public of maximum security and the fact that the inmates participating in the program were less risky to the public.