Accra: Alhaji Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, the Executive Director of the Crime Check Foundation (CCF), has engaged the High Commissioner of Togo to Ghana as part of efforts to strengthen international collaboration in justice delivery and prison reform. He said the visit was to explore partnership opportunities with the Togolese High Commission, with a particular focus on improving the conditions of foreign nationals, especially Togolese nationals, incarcerated in Ghana’s prisons.
According to Ghana News Agency, Alhaji Kwarteng introduced the Foundation’s model of support to inmates in prison to the High Commissioner, which includes prison advocacy, paying fines for petty offenders, and an inmate reintegration program, among others. He stated that since the start of the Foundation, it had supported in paying fines for over 1000 petty offenders and had reintegrated most of them into society.
The Executive Director expressed concerns over the high recidivism rate in Ghana’s prisons, emphasizing the need for joint efforts in providing legal and welfare support to migrant inmates, especially from the ECOWAS Sub-region. The Foundation’s ongoing initiatives aim to ensure fair and humane treatment for all prisoners regardless of nationality. Currently, Ghana’s prison population is 14,000, with 893 identified as migrant prisoners, including 852 from ECOWAS nations.
Alhaji Kwarteng commended the High Commissioner and the Togolese government for their efforts in reducing the remand population. He expressed willingness to work closely with the High Commissioner to conduct regular visits to prisons. He also requested to visit Togolese prisons with the facilitation of the High Commissioner to explore potential collaborative projects, including inmate rehabilitation and reintegration programs.
The Foundation is committed to working with the High Commission to champion reforms that uphold justice, dignity, and human rights. The meeting marks a significant step towards cross-border cooperation in criminal justice and is expected to open new avenues for advocacy and support for vulnerable prison populations in both countries.
Mr. Awoki Panassa, the High Commissioner, commended the leadership of the Foundation for its efforts in improving justice delivery in Ghana. Acknowledging over 100 Togolese inmates in Ghana’s prisons, he expressed the High Commission’s eagerness to collaborate with the Foundation to support these inmates. Speaking through an interpreter, Mr. Panassa showed enthusiasm for the Foundation’s inmate reintegration program, which aims to ease their transition back into society.
Pledging support, Mr. Panassa assured that the High Commission would facilitate the Foundation’s visit to Togolese prisons, working with the authorities to make the visit possible.