Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has announced a bold initiative to transform the country’s Prison Service into a major agricultural production hub. The plan, unveiled during the commissioning of the Damongo Prison Camp, aims to expand large-scale farming, poultry, and vegetable production as part of broader prison reforms.
President Mahama said the initiative would position the Prison Service as a key player in Ghana’s emerging 24-hour economy while strengthening rehabilitation programmes for inmates. He emphasized that the reforms are intended to build dignity and opportunity within the system.
The president also announced a substantial increase in the daily feeding allowance for inmates—from GH₵1.80 to GH₵5.00—describing it as a matter of justice and human dignity rather than charity. Authorities say the improvement will enhance nutrition and overall inmate welfare.
As part of the reforms, government is working to complete the 800-capacity remand facility at Nsawam, a project initiated in 2016 but left incomplete. The administration believes finishing the facility will ease congestion and support more effective rehabilitation across the country’s prisons.
