The Bolgatanga Central Zone One branch of the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association (GNTDA) has donated food items and medical supplies to inmates of the Navrongo Central Prison ahead of its 2026 graduation ceremony.
The donation included three bags of maize, seven bags of rice, three boxes of soap, eight cartons of soft drinks, 12 packs of sachet water, and first aid medication. The items were presented to prison management and officers during a visit to the facility.
Speaking at the presentation, the Chairman of GNTDA Bolgatanga Central Zone One, Shaibu Karim, said the gesture was intended to support inmates and remind them they had not been forgotten.
“This morning, we are in Navrongo to visit our brothers who unfortunately are in the prison yard. We came all the way from Bolga to support them with the little we have. We know they are being fed, but this will also help,” he said.
Mr. Karim stressed that not everyone at the facility had been convicted, noting that some inmates were still standing trial.
“Some people are inside here; they are not criminals. They are just suspects. It is important we visit them and offer them advice,” he added.
He said the association also sought to complement the government’s feeding support, which currently stands at GH₵5 per inmate per day.
“We think government is feeding them GH₵5 a day. We also want to add our support to feed our people inside the prison yard. That’s why we chose to come here and visit our brothers in Navrongo Prison,” he said.
Receiving the items on behalf of the Upper East Regional Commander of the Ghana Prisons Service, Regional Chaplain Rev. DSP Bugri Joechim expressed gratitude and highlighted some of the challenges confronting the facility.
He said although the increase in the feeding rate from GH₵1.80 to GH₵5 had brought some relief, the funds are paid to a contractor who deducts profit and transportation costs before supplying food.
“Our basic challenge has to do with feeding and medical care. We have inmates with health issues, including some with mental conditions who ideally should be at a psychiatric hospital, but they are managed here,” he explained.
Rev. DSP Bugri thanked the association for the donation, saying the food and medical supplies would help ease pressure on the facility. He added that additional support, including ceiling fans to improve ventilation, would also be beneficial.
“We must show our profound gratitude to the Ghana National Tailors and Dressmakers Association because they have been a pillar to the Navrongo Central Prison,” he said.
The GNTDA said it hopes the donation will improve the welfare of inmates and encourage other groups and organizations to support prisons across the region.
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