“It is worthy to note the challenges that our overcrowded prisons pose, the limited space in our prisons which are not purpose-built, juxtaposed against available resources. In view of these challenges and more, it is apparent that the Ghana Prisons Service cannot all alone tackle the threat that the pandemic poses without the appropriate support,” read a letter that was signed by Leopold Ansah, the Director of the Prisons welfare.
The appeal letter that was addressed to Archbishop John Bonaventure Kwofie of Accra noted that with the challenges, “there is the need to call on well-meaning organizations, groups and individuals for intervention to safeguard the lives of our compatriots and officers against the pandemic.”
In response to the appeal dated March 20, the Church in Accra through its charity wing, Caritas Accra mobilized donations that included 24 boxes of disposable gloves, 40 gallons of sanitizers, 20 gallons of liquid soap, 20 gallons of Dettol and disinfectants, 20 gallons of bleach, 17 buckets of powdered soap, 11 buckets with tap for hand washing, 30 packs of tissue papers and 90 packs of bottled water.
Mr. Darko Missah assured the Church that the items would be used for their intended purpose and hinted that as part of measures in curbing the pandemic, all prison inmates have been quarantined and restricted from movement. Prison visits in Ghana have also been halted, according to the Prisons official.
Archbishop Kwofie noted that though COVID-19 had given a new face to the world, the Church was still committed to supporting the COVID-19 struggle.
Assuring inmates of support in the fight against the disease, the Archbishop said, “We are with them and we will do our best to support them as time goes on. At the moment we bring these things to establish our solidarity with them.”
Meanwhile, Caritas Ghana, the Charity Organization of the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC), has lauded the government of the West African country for demonstrating leadership that restores hope and inspires action.
In a televised address to the nation on April 5, 2020, Ghana’s President Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo, highlighted the government’s efforts in working with faith-based organizations and other groups to provide food for about 400,000 people in different parts of the country. Additionally, the government has declared that it will foot water bills for Ghanaians for the next three months.
Further, Ghana has announced non-payment of taxes on emoluments of all health workers for the next 3 months, a 50 percent basic salary as allowance to all frontline health workers in the country as well as provision of buses to convey health workers for free.
As of Wednesday, April 8, 2020, Ghana has recorded a total of 313 cases. Of these, 3 persons have fully recovered from the disease while 49 persons have been discharged from treatment facilities and are being managed from home, while 6 have already lost their lives.
