Ghana's prisons launch a medicines bank in the Western Region
The bank pools donated medicines and equipment so remote prisons are not left behind.
Sekondi-Takoradi — The Ghana Prisons Service has launched a Medicines and Equipment Bank in the Western Region, to tackle persistent shortages of essential medicines and medical equipment in its facilities.
The bank already runs in the Greater Accra, Ashanti, Central and Northern regions and is to be extended to every regional command. It is part of the service's "Think Prisons 360" plan to modernise prisons and improve inmates' welfare, healthcare and rehabilitation.
Why it is needed
Deputy Director of Prisons Ali Ababio said shortages were driven by a growing inmate population, more communicable and non-communicable disease, and rising healthcare costs. Referring an inmate to an outside hospital can take an average of six officers a day for security.
The bank will collect medicines, consumables and equipment from drug companies, businesses, healthcare providers, religious groups and development partners and share them between prisons. It will also support inmates with conditions such as diabetes, hepatitis and cancer.
"Every inmate deserves basic healthcare"
Western Regional Commander Abraham Allotey said remote prisons find it harder to attract support. "Every inmate, irrespective of the prison facility in which they are held, whether in the city or village, deserves access to basic healthcare," he said, calling for long-term partners rather than one-off donations.
Source: 3News, 7 November 2026.
