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In a heartfelt demonstration of solidarity and compassion, the Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA), in partnership with the Ankaful Main Camp Prison, brought the spirit of Valentine’s Day and National Chocolate Day to the facility’s inmates.
The event, held on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at the Ankaful Main Camp Prison Yard, was designed to foster a sense of hope and normalcy, using vibrant activities to support the inmates’ eventual reintegration into society.
The celebration transformed the prison atmosphere with poetry recitals, music, and inspiring messages that encouraged inmates to remain optimistic about their futures. The inmates themselves took center stage, expressing themselves through spoken word performances and songs that underscored the themes of the day: the value of Ghana’s cocoa, love, redemption, and the power of second chances. They also enjoyed a variety of melodious music, dancing and celebrating as part of the occasion.
Explaining the deeper purpose behind such initiatives, the Officer-in-Charge, CSP Linda Apore, highlighted the Ghana Prisons Service’s transformative agenda under the ThinkPrison360° initiative. She noted that Ankaful Main Camp Prison is at the forefront of this vision, equipping inmates with practical, transferable skills through programs in mechanized agriculture, irrigation farming, kente weaving, shoemaking, and the production of yoghurt and sobolo.
“Our goal is to ensure that when inmates leave here, they are not just free, but are equipped to lead meaningful, self-sufficient lives,” CSP Apore stated. She emphasized that these skills are crucial for seamless reintegration, enabling former inmates to become productive members of their communities. She also took the opportunity to showcase some of the prison’s products, expressing gratitude to the Director-General of Prisons, Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, and the Central Regional Commander, Joseph Asabre, for their unwavering support.
Mr. Charles Kweku Buabeng, the Central Regional Director of the GTA, reinforced the message of love and inclusion. “This is a day of love, and we are here to express the same to our comrades who find themselves in this situation,” he remarked. He explained that the visit was part of a tradition of remembering the less fortunate, noting, “Every year we visit the vulnerable segments of our society; previously, we have visited orphanages and children’s hospitals, and this year, we are here at the prisons.” He emphasized that their primary motivation was to celebrate with those who truly need love and care.
Moved by the inmates’ enthusiasm, Mr. Buabeng pledged to strengthen the partnership between the GTA and the Prisons Service by actively promoting inmate-made products to tourists visiting the Central Region.
The event’s proceedings were followed by a distribution of chocolate bars to the inmates, led by the president of the Rotary Club, University of Cape Coast Chapter, and the Regional Director of the GTA. In a significant boost to the facility’s infrastructure, they also donated a water reservoir, handwashing containers, and dustbins.
The celebration culminated in an interactive session designed to convey compassion and dignity, reinforcing the transformative power of love and encouraging the inmates to envision themselves as valuable future contributors to their communities.
