The Gold Fields Ghana Foundation has launched the Prisons Agro-Support and Empowerment (PASE) Project at the Tarkwa Local Prison, committing more than GH¢140,000 to expand the prison’s oil palm plantation and equip inmates with practical agricultural skills to support their rehabilitation and reintegration into society.
The initiative seeks to strengthen food security within the prison while providing vocational training for more than 340 inmates through hands-on experience in oil palm cultivation and sustainable farming.
At the launch, the Foundation handed over essential farming inputs to facilitate the expansion of the prison’s oil palm plantation from 30 acres to 50 acres. The support includes 1,400 Tenera oil palm seedlings, 141 bags of NPK fertiliser, 200 bags of organic compost, 36 containers of glyphosate weedicide, 10 knapsack sprayers, 20 cutlasses and 10 pairs of wellington boots.
The PASE Project is designed to transform agriculture into a practical tool for rehabilitation by empowering inmates and prison officers with skills in oil palm cultivation, plantation management, crop husbandry and sustainable farming practices. The programme is expected to enhance employability, promote self-reliance and create opportunities for inmates to build sustainable livelihoods upon their release.
Beyond expanding the plantation, the Foundation is considering the future establishment of an on-site oil palm processing centre to add value to harvested produce, reduce the prison’s dependence on external suppliers and strengthen the project’s long-term sustainability.
The Foundation said the initiative aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 2 on Zero Hunger, SDG 8 on Decent Work and Economic Growth, and SDG 17 on Partnerships for the Goals, by promoting food production, skills development and institutional collaboration.
The PASE Project forms part of the Gold Fields Ghana Foundation’s broader enterprise development agenda, under which it has invested more than US$7.48 million in initiatives aimed at promoting sustainable livelihoods, economic empowerment and community development.
The Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to supporting programmes that create opportunities for vulnerable groups, improve livelihoods and offer renewed hope through skills development and productive employment.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
