The Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Education have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to promote the local production of sanitary pads, school uniforms and furniture for public schools nationwide.
Under the agreement, at least 30 per cent of school furniture required for public schools will be produced and supplied through the Ghana Prisons Service, while a minimum of 25 per cent of the government’s 2025 free sanitary pad programme will be sourced from local manufacturers.
Speaking at the signing ceremony on Wednesday, January 14, the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak, said the partnership is designed to promote value for money, transparency and efficiency in public procurement.
He explained that anchoring production within state-owned institutions would not only ensure proper oversight but also strengthen the role of the Ghana Prisons Service in national development.
“This initiative ensures value for money and transparency in public procurement by anchoring production within the state-owned industrial system, with clear oversight. It also supports inmate rehabilitation and reintegration by expanding vocational and industrial training opportunities within the Ghana Prisons Service, equipping inmates with employable skills for life after incarceration,” the Minister said.
The Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, welcomed the initiative, describing it as a significant intervention aimed at reducing reoffending among former inmates.
According to her, providing inmates with practical skills and productive work opportunities while in custody is critical to helping them reintegrate successfully into society.
“The ultimate goal is to ensure public safety. By completing this cycle, we are breaking the cycle of recidivism and enabling individuals who pass through the prison system to reintegrate into society and lead law-abiding lives,” she stated.
The partnership is expected to strengthen local manufacturing, support government social interventions, and enhance rehabilitation outcomes within the prison system.
