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A Daycare Centre to create a supportive nurturing environment for children born to incarcerated women and babies of female prison officers, was on Monday inaugurated at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons in the Eastern Region.
The facility has been put up by the Nsawam Prisons Ladies Association (PRILAS) in collaboration with Blue Skies and Women Discovery to ensure that children were kept safe to allow their mothers to focus on learning vocational skills, and participating in rehabilitation programmes without the distractions and burdens of childcare.
Deputy Director of Prisons (DSP), Edward Fiifi Acquah, in a short remarks, emphasised the importance of addressing the, “emotional and psychological needs of inmates,” noting that creating a supportive environment fostered stronger social bonds and enhances rehabilitation.
He said, “providing such facilities helps to reduce recidivism and supports a successful reintegration into society, particularly for nursing mothers.”
He expressed confidence that the initiative would help these women focus on learning profitable skills in order to enable them to become productive and responsible citizens upon their release.
DDP Acquah also acknowledged the facility’s role in supporting prison officers, many of whom were mothers themselves.
With their children now in a safe and nurturing environment, officers can concentrate on their demanding jobs without the added worry of childcare that, he noted, would enhance their efficiency and well-being.
He further emphasised the crucial role that education plays in the Ghana Prisons Service’s strategic objectives, adding that the daycare facility would contribute significantly to the early childhood development of the children it served.
He praised PRILAS members and their partners for their vision and dedication, urging them to continue their support.
A Board Member of the Blue Skies Foundation, Dr Abena Asomaning, expressed her pride in the achievement, noting that the facility marked a milestone in their commitment to supporting incarcerated women and their children.
She reiterated that every individual, regardless of their circumstances, deserved to be treated with “dignity and compassion” and also stressed the importance of addressing the needs of children who accompanied their mothers in prison, calling for holistic care and support.
The establishment of this daycare, she said, symbolised hope and resilience, saying, “It stands as a testament to the transformative power of collaboration and community support, aiming not only to provide practical childcare solutions but to create a nurturing environment where children can thrive despite the challenges they may face,” she said.
Ms Sophia Osei-Bonsu, the Deputy Director of Prisons and the initiator of the daycare project, recounted how she noticed the challenges female prisoners faced when trying to balance childcare with vocational training, and also observed that female officers struggled to juggle their demanding roles with their responsibilities as mothers.
Ms Osei-Bonsu stated that her idea was warmly received, and through the collective efforts of PRILAS, the Director General of Prisons, and other stakeholders and individuals, the facility had now become a reality.
She said the daycare facility was not just a building, but a beacon of hope and a step toward a better future for the women and children living within the prison system.
FROM AMA TEKYIWAA AMPADU AGYEMAN, NSAWAM
