Madam Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, Director-General of the Ghana Prison Service, has advocated the use of local languages on online learning platforms to ensure inclusivity for inmates with low educational backgrounds.
The appeal was made during a ceremony at which Leyden Education Consult donated 30 laptops fitted with online learning content to inmates and prison officers.
She said the introduction of local languages into digital learning modules would allow more inmates to fully take part in education and skills training programmes, stressing that language should not be a barrier to rehabilitation.
Madam Baffoe-Bonnie also appealed for more practical, hands-on courses, including architecture and other technical skills, to help prepare inmates for life and work after prison.
Thanking Leyden Education Consult for the grant, she said it will be a big help to the Service’s continued efforts to improve inmate rehabilitation and reintegration programs and prison officer professional development.
Dr. James Owusu, Chief Executive Officer of Leyden Education Consult, said the initiative was designed as a comprehensive skills development programme to help curb reoffending among inmates. He noted that the courses loaded onto the laptops are intended to equip beneficiaries with not only theoretical knowledge but also critical thinking and practical, job-ready skills.
According to Dr. Owusu, statistics indicate that a significant number of inmates re-offend within six months of regaining their freedom. He said the programme was deliberately designed to equip inmates with relevant skills and competencies before release, making their transition into the job market easier.
Ibrahim Kwateng, the founder of the Crime Check Foundation, said the 30 computers were a huge help to the rehabilitation efforts of the prisoners. According to him, the devices will give prisoners the chance to learn new information and useful skills while completing their sentences because they are equipped with instructional programs of various lengths.
Mr. Kwateng stressed that education and vocational training remain critical tools in reducing recidivism among inmates. He also praised the Director-General for her dedication and enthusiasm toward the initiative, noting that her assurance of the effective use of the laptops demonstrates the Service’s preparedness to fully adopt the programme.
He further disclosed that the donation is the first phase of a broader initiative by Leyden Education Consult, with the 30 laptops serving as a pilot for a planned 1,000-laptop project to enhance rehabilitation and skills development in prisons nationwide.
