The Ejura Traditional Council, in collaboration with the Ejura Sekyedumase Municipal Assembly and the Ghana Prisons Service, has cut sod for the construction of a 250-unit accommodation block for officers of the Ejura Camp Prison, a move aimed at strengthening security and improving the welfare of prison personnel in the municipality.
The sod-cutting ceremony was led by the Paramount Chief of Ejura, Barima Osei Hwedie II, and witnessed by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ejura Sekyedumase, Rafiu Adam Seidu, and the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie (Esq.), alongside officials from the Ashanti Regional and national headquarters of the Service.
The project, a 250-unit bedroom apartment facility, is intended to provide decent and accessible accommodation for prison officers posted to the Ejura Sekyedumase Municipality, many of whom currently commute long distances to and from work.
Addressing the gathering, Barima Osei Hwedie II underscored the need to adequately resource security agencies to ensure lasting peace and safety in the area. “If Ejura is to enjoy peace and protection, then we must take care of all our security services,” he said. “Prison officers are part of our internal security architecture, and they deserve a comfortable place to rest after duty.”
The Paramount Chief noted that the Ejura Traditional Council has consistently supported security agencies in the municipality, citing the establishment of bungalows and facilities for the military, Ghana Police Service, Ghana National Fire Service, and the Ghana Immigration Service.
Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie, speaking on behalf of the Ghana Prisons Service, welcomed the initiative and described it as timely.
She said many officers at the Ejura Camp Prison endure daily physical, financial and emotional strain due to long commutes, sometimes exceeding 18 kilometres.
“This accommodation project will significantly reduce stress and improve the well-being and productivity of our officers,” she stated.
The Director-General was accompanied by senior officers, including Deputy Director of Prisons (DOP) Millicent Owusu (Esq.), Director of Welfare and Inmates Treatment; DDP Janet Asabea, Head of Public Affairs; DDP James B. Mwinyelle (Ing.), Ashanti Regional Prisons Commander; CSP Richard Bukari, Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer; and Superintendent George Kwame Ntumy, Officer-in-Charge of the Ejura Camp Prison.
Rafiu Adam Seidu expressed appreciation to the Ejura Traditional Council for the initiative, describing the project as “overwhelming and commendable.”
He said both the Municipal Assembly and the Member of Parliament’s office fully support the move, noting that improved welfare for security personnel directly translates into enhanced security for residents.
The accommodation project is expected to strengthen collaboration between traditional authorities, local government, and security agencies, while contributing to peace and stability in the Ejura Sekyedumase Municipality.
Source :www.kumasimail.com Oheneba Kesse Brempong-Asare
