Director General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, has reaffirmed her commitment to transforming the country’s correctional facilities into a more modern, humane, and efficient system.
Speaking at the Ghana Women Awards 2025 ceremony held at the Accra International Conference Centre, Madam Baffoe-Bonnie said her ultimate goal is to leave behind a prison service that upholds accountability and prioritises the welfare of both officers and inmates.
“My vision is to leave behind a modernised prison system that holds people accountable, one that recognises the welfare of officers, staff, and inmates,” she said.
The event, which honoured more than 20 exceptional Ghanaian women for their contributions to national development, saw Madam Baffoe-Bonnie receive the Lifetime Achievement Award for her over 37 years of dedicated service to the Ghana Prisons Service.
Her recognition follows a previous honour in 2013, when she was named Outstanding Female Prisons Officer by the same organisation, a reflection of her consistency, professionalism, and long-standing dedication to prison reform.
Before her appointment as Director General, she served in several high-level capacities, including Director of Prisons Health, Technical & Services; Director of Operations; Director of Services; and Deputy Director-General (Finance and Administration).
These experiences, she noted, have equipped her with the insight to drive transformation within the service.
Dressed elegantly in her immaculate official attire, Madam Baffoe-Bonnie expressed appreciation to President John Mahama, her family, personnel of the Ghana Prisons Service, and the organisers of the awards.
She also dedicated the award to the inmates she affectionately referred to as her “royals.”
“I dedicate this award to my royals — the prison inmates. They motivate me every day. Each time I walk through the prison walls and see them, I feel compelled to push harder to give them second chances,” she said.
“Our goal is not to encourage anyone to end up in prison, but to help those who do find their worth and live meaningful lives after release.”
The organisers of the Ghana Women Awards, Brein Consult, expressed gratitude to sponsors including Perla Mineral Water, CompuGhana, Hollantex (official fabric sponsor), Ecobank, Ginny Rice, and The Honest Man for supporting this year’s edition.
Since its inception in 2009, the Ghana Women Awards held under the auspices of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has celebrated women whose contributions have shaped Ghana’s progress in diverse fields.
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