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The Ashanti Regional Coordinating Council (ARCC) has commended telecom behemoth MTN Ghana for its ongoing support of Ashantifest, a month-long celebration of the rich cultural history of the Asante people that includes traditional foods, dances, sports, and historical sites in the region.
On Thursday, April 17, the ARCC team visited MTN’s display booths at the Methodist Church in Kumasi, where the company had collaborated with the local government to conduct a public blood drive and medical examinations for inmates at the Ashanti Main Prison.
“I’m glad MTN Ghana understands the value of backing projects that will benefit the people in the area as well as organisations and businesses like theirs that operate in this jurisdiction,” Dr. Amoakohene said. In a durbar held later that day at the Adum Prisons grounds, Ashanti Regional Prisons Commander DDP James Mwinyelle praised the ARCC for including medical outreach in the Ashantifest program.
He especially commended the Regional Minister, a licensed medical professional, for participating in the inmate screening procedure in person.
He said, “Inmates in our jails in Adum, Amanfrom, Manhyia, and Ahinsan are able to make artefacts and other items like beads, traditional headgear, detergents, and African designs.
“We just need to establish collaborations so they can carry out this work more extensively and make a living once they are released.”
According to Mr. Mwinyelle, the Regional Council should continue prioritizing the welfare of inmates and involve them in more extensive social development projects.
The Kumasi Central Prisons, built in 1901 with enough for 500 inmates, is home to the Ashanti Regional Prisons Command.
It now houses an average of 1,709 inmates serving sentences for a range of offences.
The detainees are separated into three groups, according to the prison officials: lifers, trial inmates, and those serving both short and long sentences.
Among the rehabilitative activities the offenders take part in are kente weaving, beadwork, carpentry, masonry, and tailoring.
Additional fields include ICT, education (JHS & SHS), metalworking, shoemaking, electrical and electronic work, and the tying and dying of batik.
The goods from the different therapy programs were shown or presented to the general audience. Additionally, the event provided the Ashanti Regional Command of Prisons Service with an opportunity to display their products to the public.
Among the things on exhibit were kente, bakery goods, carpentry items, shoes, beaded items, shop items, liquid soap, and batik dyes and ties. Under the supervision of DDP Ing James B. Mwinyelle, the Ashanti Regional Prisons Commander, Dr. Amoakohene examined the many stands and was extremely impressed by the exceptional quality of the products made by the several prison units in the area. He therefore encouraged Ghanaians to purchase their products.
At the medical stand, members of the public expressed their appreciation for MTN’s outreach. Akua Agyeman, a shopkeeper at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, explained how her relative’s life was saved by having access to blood donations. “Whenever I feel well enough to do so, I take advantage of the opportunity to donate blood,” she stated. Adum retailer Alex Amankwah commended MTN for its enduring dedication. “As a customer of MTN, I appreciate that this company takes Ghanaians’ welfare and well-being seriously,” he said.
