The Ghana Prisons Service is set to showcase the creative abilities and hidden talents of inmates at the Wa Central Prison as part of the “Talents Behind Bars” programme on Sunday, September 13, 2026.
The programme, scheduled for 1:00 p.m. at the Wa Central Prison, is an initiative of the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie Esq, and will be held strictly by invitation.
Speaking in an interview on the Day Break Upper West Show on Lambussie FM, the Upper West Regional Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Prisons Service, Superintendent of Prisons Joseph Kpiriko, said the Wa edition would be the fourth of the programme, following editions held at Kumasi Central Prison, Ankafo Prison and Nsawam Prison.
According to him, the programme seeks to demonstrate that imprisonment does not take away an individual’s talents, creativity or potential.
He said the initiative is designed to unearth hidden talents among inmates, build their confidence and keep them meaningfully engaged while serving their sentences.
Superintendent Kpiriko explained that the programme also forms part of the Prisons Service’s broader reintegration agenda, aimed at preparing inmates for a successful return to society.
He noted that identifying and nurturing inmates’ talents could create opportunities for them after serving their sentences and help them develop skills that could support their livelihoods.
The programme, he added, is also intended to address the stigma and discrimination often faced by former inmates after their release.
Superintendent Kpiriko therefore appealed to community members to accept ex-convicts and give them the opportunity to reintegrate into society.
He stressed that the community is the first home of an ex-convict, and warned that persistent rejection and discrimination could increase the likelihood of former inmates reoffending and returning to prison.
“Being imprisoned doesn’t imprison your talent and creativity,” he said, emphasising the philosophy behind the initiative.»
He assured the public that adequate security arrangements had been put in place to ensure a successful and orderly programme.
Although access to the prison yard will be restricted to invited guests, Superintendent Kpiriko said arrangements had been made to ensure that the wider public also gets the opportunity to experience the talents and creativity of the inmates.
He further disclosed that “Talents Behind Bars” is not a one-off initiative, but a programme the Ghana Prisons Service intends to sustain and make part of the institution’s culture.
The initiative is expected to provide inmates with a platform to demonstrate their abilities, boost their self-confidence and contribute to changing public perceptions about prisoners and ex-convicts.
The Ghana Prisons Service believes that supporting inmates to discover and develop their talents, while promoting acceptance after their release, will contribute to reducing recidivism and strengthening the reintegration of former inmates into their communities.
