The National Youth Council of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) has celebrated this year’s International Youth Day with inmates at the Senior Correctional Facility in Accra.
According to TUC, the gesture forms part of its social and corporate responsibilities of extending help to the marginalized and vulnerable in society.
Speaking at a presentation in Accra, Youth Desk Officer, Abena Afriyie Domfeh said “We are young workers of TUC and per our structures, we (youth) celebrate International Youth Day year’s event with the marginalized and vulnerable in society.”
She mentioned that in previous years, the Young Officers celebrated the International Youth Day with the Drug Abuse Rehabilitation Centre in Kumasi and the Elderly Care Centre in Tema.
She said “All is not lost. Despite the mistakes they have made in life, society will welcome and embrace them”
Madam Domfeh seized the opportunity to notify the Government to pay attention to the inmates of the senior correctional facility.
The Youth Desk Officer also praised officers of the Ghana Prisons Service for catering and ensuring that the inmates are safe likewise sound.
On her part, the Assistant Director of Prisons at the Senior Correctional Centre, ADP Millicent Owusu thanked the young officers for their kind gesture.
She assured the young officers that the items presented will be used for their intended purposes.
ADP Owusu said “At this correctional center, kids of ages between 4 to 21 are been brought here. It is unfortunate that they find themselves here but together with the government and the Prison’s service have our own measures put in place to ensure that they transform”
She revealed that although the correctional center has about 14 different workshops, it is facing lots of challenges.
She hinted that the center has 224 inmates.
ADP Owusu further disclosed that without the help of Philanthropists and Organizations, it is difficult to manage the inmates.
“We have tailoring, welding, carpentry, bamboo, bead making, ceramic, mechanics among others”
She on behalf of the inmates appealed to the government to turn its attention to them and help make life comfortable.
The Greater Accra Regional PRO of the Prisons Service, ASP Loretta Valentina Amoah said “This center means a lot to us and when philanthropists and organizations show us these kinds of love, it makes us extremely happy”
She hinted that the passion of the Prison Service is to transform the lives of the inmates adding that most of them have beautiful potentials.
“We have SHS and University students amongst the inmates so we really need philanthropists who will come to our aid. NGOs will help us mold, shape, and give these children a brighter future. Some are extremely intelligent and with support, they will churn out as good citizens”
The National Youth Council donated items worth thousands of Ghana cedis to the inmates.
Watch the video and pictures below:
Story by: Joshua Kwabena Smith
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