The Ghanaian government has been urged to implement more effective measures to ensure that the dignity and human rights of prison inmates across the country are upheld.
Additionally, collaboration between state institutions, particularly the Department of Defense, and organisations, including non-profits and philanthropists, is essential to complement the government’s efforts in safeguarding the respect and rights of individuals serving sentences for various offenses.
These appeals were made by Agivert Jackson, the Founder and President of the US-based non-profit organisation Unlimited Cancer Care International (UCCI), during a visit to the Kumasi Central Prisons in Ghana’s Ashanti Region. The visit was part of UCCI’s “Ghana Projects 2024” initiative.
Under the management of the Ghanaian entity LYB Legacy Limited, Jackson and her team, including three African Americans, interacted with female inmates at the prison. Although UCCI primarily focuses on cancer-related issues, Jackson emphasized the need to extend love, care, and education on various health conditions, including cancer, to female inmates, enabling them to adopt preventive measures.
“It is important to preach the message of preventive measures against cancers to society out there, but it is more important to extend the message to you here in the prisons,” Jackson said. She highlighted the heightened vulnerability of incarcerated individuals, stating, “You in incarceration for diverse reasons are more restricted and limited to opportunities to take care of your health needs, compared to those outside of the prisons.”
Jackson urged the inmates to prioritize their health, reminding them of their value to society. “After your term here, you get released back to the communities and societies from where you came, and you need to be integrated into those societies healthy enough to contribute your quota to these communities,” she said. Jackson expressed gratitude for the opportunity to share a message of hope, centered on cancer prevention, and made a cash donation to the inmates, describing it as a “widow’s mite” to alleviate their hardships. She assured the inmates that UCCI would include them in future plans for continued support.
Dr. Zakiyyah Backman, Founder of another US-based charity, M&B Foundation, and partner to UCCI, encouraged the inmates not to despair. “Seeing you here today excites me so much that we feel prouder and happier that we made this trip,” she said, reaffirming M&B Foundation’s commitment to supporting UCCI’s Ghana projects and ensuring continued assistance to the inmates.
In a related development, UCCI provided funds for eyeglasses for an inmate at the Manhyia Prisons in Kumasi. The inmate, Festus Sakyi, had appealed for assistance through a letter to the President of the Grace Baptist Church Prisons Ministry, Mr. Thomas Appiah. Touched by the plea, Jackson promptly provided the necessary funds.
In appreciation, the Ghana Prisons Service sent a letter to UCCI, expressing profound gratitude for the organization’s humanitarian support. Signed by Assistant Director of Prisons Hannan Hilda Ewoame, the letter conveyed deep thanks to UCCI and its team. “I am deeply grateful for your gesture. Once again, I say thank you and God bless you,” the letter read.
By Listowell Yesu Bukarson, Kumasi-Ashanti Region, Ghana
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