A new daycare center has been inaugurated at Nsawam Prisons in the Eastern Region of Ghana to support the childcare needs of female inmates and prison officers.
The facility, which includes offices, classrooms, washrooms, and a playground, was funded by Blue Skies Foundation and Woman Rediscovered Ghana as part of their corporate social responsibility efforts.
The project was initiated following a proposal by the Prisons Ladies Association (PRILAS) to address the lack of childcare support at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons, particularly for female inmates who give birth while incarcerated.
During the inauguration ceremony, Victoria Adzewodah, Officer in charge of Nsawam Female Prison, reiterated the daycare center’s importance.
She stated, “The structure we are commissioning today is critical for the prison service, the inmates, and the female officers. It will also benefit the community as a whole.”
Adzewodah stressed that the daycare would allow inmates who give birth to focus on vocational training. “When they deliver, there is the need for them to learn vocational skills. Now, they will have a safe place for their children, allowing them to concentrate on acquiring skills that will help them when they leave prison,” she added.
The daycare center is also seen as providing a nurturing environment for the children. “The children will be able to interact with others in a healthy setting, and the mothers can focus on their training, knowing their children are in good hands,” Adzewodah noted.
In addition to the daycare, the Nsawam Female Prison is constructing a diagnostic center to better assess and tailor rehabilitation programs for inmates.
Adzewodah called on stakeholders to support this initiative, noting, “We are progressing steadily with the project, and we need assistance to complete it.”
Alistair Djimatey, Head of Corporate Affairs at Blue Skies Foundation, emphasized the foundation’s commitment to supporting children and women. “This is one of 168 livelihood support projects we have completed in the past 15 years. We want to give hope to children who join their parents in prison and provide them with a good environment for learning and growth,” Djimatey said.
He added, “As a business, we believe that when people are happy, it will reflect in the work they do. This daycare will ease the burden on prison officers and give children in these communities a chance for a brighter future.”
Diana Asamoah Darko, President of Woman Rediscovered Ghana, also expressed her hopes for the project. “Our goal is to nurture these children to become positive influences in society, breaking the cycle of suffering that their parents may have experienced,” she said.
The Nsawam Prison daycare center is part of a broader effort to improve early childhood care and education (ECCE) in line with UNESCO’s recommendations. ECCE is seen as essential for laying the foundation for lifelong learning and social-emotional development, especially for marginalized groups.
The project is also in tandem with meeting SDG 4, which aims for inclusive and quality education for all, which requires integrating ECCE to address the equity and relevance crises in education.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Kojo Ansah
