GCCI President donates ¢20,000 worth of food, sanitary items to Nsawam Prisons to cushion Covid-19

Ghana Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) President, Dr Nana Appiagyei Dankawoso 1 announced recently that it has donated some food and sanitary items worth GH¢20,000 to the Nsawam Prisons in the Eastern Region.

According to the president, now is the time for Corporate Ghana to provide all the financial support for the fight against Covid-19.

He stressed further, “No one is exempt from the impact of the Coronavirus. Even here at the Nsawam Prisons, inmates are likely to be impacted. That is why as part of my corporate social responsibility, I have, together with my family, made this donation to the Nsawam Prisons as a widow’s might. I hope other corporate entities do more in helping vulnerable societies”.

Receiving the items, Assistant PRO for the Male Nsawam Male Prisons Facility, ASP Nanavi Solomon urged businesses and other good hearts to support the prison service as they remain hotspots for the spread of the Coronavirus.

“We are glad to receive this donation. These are uncertain times and donations as this means a lot to the Nsawam Prisons. We just want to urge Corporate Ghana that our doors are open for other acts of kindness,” he stated.

Meanwhile, The Ghana Health Service says it is working closely with prison authorities to ensure that no correctional facility in the country records a case of Covid-19.

This follows concerns of a possible spread of the virus considering challenges of overcrowding at various prison facilities in Ghana.

Densely populated prisons in Ghana is a major challenge and health experts have warned that the situation could be catastrophic if an infected person goes into these facilities.

Therefore, the Nsawam medium-security prison has established certain protocols which include hand washing and checking of the temperature of visitors and fresh inmates before they are allowed entry.

As has been done over the years, the government early this year gave amnesty to some 808 inmates across the country, but a more radical amnesty is required if a significant decongestion is to be realized to prevent what could potentially become a national emergency.

Several correctional facilities in Ghana are currently overflowing with inmates, leaving prison authorities with no option but to pack inmates like ‘sardines’, a common but regrettable phenomenon.