Cpl Edward Opoku, with service number 11557, who is a sound engineer with the Prison’s Master Piece Band, was rewarded for his bravery and professionalism in recapturing the escaped fugitive on December 3, last year, at Bomfa Akyiase in the Ashanti Region.

Cpl Opoku, who is based in Accra, has been with the Prison Service Band unit since his recruitment in  December 2016.

At a brief ceremony to honour Cpl Opoku in Accra, in the presence of senior officials of the GPS, his colleagues, family and friends, he was presented with a citation after the administrative promotion.

Capture

Narrating how he captured the fugitive to the Daily Graphic, Cpl Opoku said he was going to visit a friend in Asiwa in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region but he had to stop at Bomfa Akyiase after the driver of the commercial vehicle he was travelling on decided to end the journey at that point.

Before he could continue his journey, he said he heard from some residents of the community that a fugitive who had escaped from prison had been arrested for stealing a mobile phone.

Cpl Opoku risked his life to rescue the escapee from the angry residents who were on the verge of lynching him.

“I sustained injuries while trying to protect the fugitive.

I feared for the life of the fugitive but the angry mob would not listen to me.

I had to show them my identification card at some point,” he said.

When he finally freed the escapee from the mob, Cpl Opoku said he took the captured fugitive to a police station in Pemenase, a community after Bomfa Akyiase, where the incident happened, since there was no police station in Bomfa Akyiase.

At the police station, the officers on duty failed to take the fugitive in, indicating that “they feared he could pass away in their custody because the prisoner was weak from the beatings,” said Cpl Opoku.

He then took the escapee prisoner to a medical facility where they both received medical attention after which the jailbreaker was lodged at the Kumasi Central Prison and later transferred to the Prison’s headquarters in Accra.

“These kinds of things do not happen often.

You just would not find any escaped prisoners roaming around,” he said.

Cpl Opoku expressed his appreciation to the leadership of the GPS, especially the Director-General, Isaac Kofi Egyir, for the honour. 

Administrative promotion

Mr Egyir commended Cpl Opoku for exhibiting professionalism, bravery and courage to recapture the escapee.

He said the courage and competence he exhibited should motivate all personnel and officers of the service to be dedicated to their duties.

“This method of promotion is an exception to the general rules and specifications in these guidelines.

The recipient must have shown exceptional honesty, skill, bravery and efficiency”, he stated.

ALSO READ:

• Prison inmates turning street beggars – MP

• Ridge Hospital reacts to convict’s luxury stay at facility instead of Nsawam Prison

The beneficiaries are the Director of Finance, Samuel Adjei-Attah and Director of Operations Samuel Owusu Amponsah set to retire on July 14 and May 26, 2023, respectively.

Junior officers are therefore expected to pay ¢15.00 while senior officers pay ¢25.00 which according to the Service is a tradition for pull-out service.

The officers are expected to pay their monies by April 30, 2023, to a MoMo merchant number which was attached in the signal.

The letter intercepted by Adomonline.com originating from the Director of Welfare has raised concerns and generated mixed reactions.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, some officers who spoke on condition of anonymity said, that has been the norm.

The first officer indicated that, an announcement about the contribution came up at his station during a parade on Tuesday morning and sparked controversy.

Another noted that, though the contributions are expected to be voluntary, they are forced to pay and the failure of an officer will result in an extended duty schedule.

Ghana Prisons Service sends important message to govt [Audio]

Rev Owusu Ansah, Adom FM donate ambulance to Ghana Prisons Service [Video+Photos]

“They make a list and post it on the notice board so if you don’t pay, your duty will be extended and you will work overtime as punishment,” he said.

An officer who also sounded livid questioned why they are always forced to make such payments while their conditions of service and other pressing matters are not given such priority.

Below is the radio message

Lilwin, who is a cast and producer of a yet-to-be-released series, Asase Yaa, was in his elements when at least three officials joined him on set.

Their motive was to present a citation of appreciation for his benevolent act to some inmates of the Kumasi Central Prison.

Lilwin bought time off his busy schedule to fete with some inmates and offer donations for their upkeep.

As part of his philanthropic activities during the Christmas seaosn of giving, Lilwin presented food items and toiletries and handed some random inmates cash amounting to GHS 7,400 as well as a token to their supervisors.

In return, the service unit has opened its doors to the actor.

In a keynote speech at the Prisons Officers Cadet Course Intake 29 Graduation Parade, President Akufo-Addo emphasised on the need to fight against stigmatisation and support these ex-convicts to strengthen their resolve to live within the acceptable social norms and values.

According to him, though the Prisons Service has a mandate to ensure that convicts who return to society are well-reformed, the public needs to take the responsibility to receive them “so they don’t become repeat offenders.”

He further revealed that the government was doubling efforts to address the funding challenges facing the service to discharge completely changed and reformed felons.

“I remain committed to granting periodic amnesty to deserving inmates upon the advice of the Council of State. The Government would not relent in efforts to see to the completion of a remand prison at Nsawam to ease the pressure on Minimum Security Prison,” he said.

“Your call has come at a time when much is expected of the Prisons Service, both in its domestic and international obligation. It should not be lost on you that your call is one of trust reposed in you.

“Contemporary correctional management does not just focus on punishing prisoners, condemning and stigmatizing them with painful treatment methods, but rather on repairing their humanity and helping to restore their God-given talents in line with acceptable international standards,” he added.