The Ghana Library Authority has organised a reading amnesty at the Nsawam Medium Prison on the theme “Free To Read” which focuses on encouraging inmates to use “temporary situation” as a period of profound personal growth .
The Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Library Authority, Mr. Alhassan Ziblim commended the OIC (Officer-in-Charge) and all officials for their commitment and urged the inmates that they should continue to make themselves and their families proud by excelling in their education.
“Don’t allow a temporary situation to leave a permanent mark,” he urged.
He emphasised that the officers of the prison service and the achievements of the officers and teachers must not be overlooked.
“Looking at the ages of the in-mates and not limiting themselves but making it by furthering their education with limited freedom means they deserve more than scholarships.”
Mr. Ziblim said inmates perform best when given more opportunities to explore and realise their full potential.
“The Ghana Library Authority will help renovate the library to meet a modern standard as the ones being used across the country. In our next visit, the Authority would donate three laptops to the Nsawam Medium Prison School for students pursuing their Master’s degrees, which would facilitate advanced training and learning,” he pledged.
On his part, the Eastern Regional Director of the Ghana Library Authority, Mr. Evans Korletey-Tene said the authority’s core vision is to connect every corner of Ghana to vital knowledge resources.
“We believe that access to information should not be restricted to the “outside world” therefore, we are intentionally extending these resources to our prison facilities,” he said, adding that the initiative is driven by our commitment in promoting literacy.
“We view education as the fundamental cornerstone of personal development and successful rehabilitation.”
According to him, in supporting this journey, the authority would evolve beyond traditional learning methods.
“Our goal is to lead inmates beyond physical, hard-copy books by providing access to E-books for a wider range of contemporary titles and digital platforms to facilitate modern research and skill-building.
The Office in charge (OIC) of the Educational and Reformational Facilities, Chief Superintendent of Prisons (CSP) Paul Nuobepour, commended the Library Authority for the donation and said the educational initiative continues to yield remarkable results.
“We are proud to announce that seven inmates have successfully graduated from the undergraduate program in which three students achieved First Class honors,” he revealed.
This success, he noted, demonstrates that with the right resources, academic excellence is achievable regardless of one’s environment.
The Headteacher of the Nsawam Medium Prison Schools, Mr. Martin Osei, commended the authorities for their support and appealed for the provision of more textbooks aligned with the current curriculum approved by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NaCCA) and the Ghana Education Service (GES).
