Godfred Seidu Jasaw proposes mandatory procurement of prison-made goods by government institutions
The Chairman of Parliament’s Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee and member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw, has called for a government directive requiring public institutions to purchase a quota of goods produced by inmates of the Ghana Prisons Service. He said the policy would provide a reliable market for prison-based vocational businesses and help the…
Dr Godfred Seidu Jasaw, a member of Parliament's Food, Agriculture and Cocoa Affairs Committee and Public Accounts Committee, has advocated for a government mandate requiring public institutions to purchase a portion of products crafted by inmates of the Ghana Prisons Service. The proposal is intended to create a dependable market for prison-based vocational enterprises and enable the Ghana Prisons Service to generate stable revenue without relying excessively on donations and philanthropic support.
The suggestion was made during a discussion between the PAC and the Ghana Prisons Service on October 21, 2026, in response to concerns raised by the Service's Director-General, Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, regarding insufficient funding and insufficient backing for the vocational projects. Jasaw contended that depending on public empathy and donations is not a sustainable approach to growing the commercial endeavors of the Prisons Service.
He questioned how the Service could capitalize on this readily available resource, stating, "That’s cheap labour already available—so that’s a factor of production. The question is, how do you turn this to your advantage?" Although acknowledging prior skills training and capacity-building endeavors in prisons, Jasaw emphasized the necessity for the Service to establish a robust economic model capable of converting those skills into prosperous businesses.
He proposed that government entities and state-owned enterprises should be obligated to procure certain goods from prison-based enterprises, with metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies purchasing a percentage of their furniture and associated products from the artisans. The MP also called upon the Ghana Prisons Service to create business plans that could entice financing from commercial banks and other financial institutions.
Jasaw stressed the importance of well-defined markets and consistent revenue streams in lowering investment risks and making prison enterprises more appealing to lenders. He identified wood carvings and furniture production for schools as possible areas for growth, provided the Service can demonstrate demand and secure reliable buyers.
Jasaw encouraged the Director-General to assess the Service's current capabilities and hire personnel who can formulate commercially viable proposals concerning the vocational activities of the Ghana Prisons Service. He urged the Director-General to move away from dependence on donations if the Service aims to achieve significant institutional transformation.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
