Prisons officers asked to respect rights of prisoners

Prisons officers have been urged to respect the rights of prisoners and to treat them with human dignity.

Out-going Ashanti Regional Chaplain of Prisons, The Reverend Father Superintendent Martin Padi, said prisoners should not be badly handled on the basis of their conviction.

He said the expectation is that the officers would aid the inmates to reform to lead normal lives. He made the call at a send off mass organized for him in Kumasi.

The Rev Fr Padi has now been transferred to the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons after 11 years stay in Kumasi, and he is credited with some monumental achievements including the construction of the first-ever Catholic Prisons Church.

He appealed to all to work together to push against the social stigma tends to drive prisoners into their old bad ways after regaining their freedom.

He said everything should be done to assist ex-convicts to live within the law and give up on crime.

The Regional Prisons Commander, Mr Emmanuel Adzator, praised the out-going chaplain for the dedicated service and good job and expressed confidence that this would continue.