THE Ghana Prisons Service has held its maiden Director-General and Adehyeɛ Art Exhibition as part of its Think Prisons 360 Degrees initiative, which seeks to use creative arts to support the reformation and rehabilitation of inmates.
The two-day exhibition featured paintings, crafts and other creative works produced by the Director-General of Prisons, Mrs Patience Baffoe-Bonnie (Esq.), and inmates, known as Adehyeɛ, from various prison establishments.
On the first day, students from selected schools in Accra, including Kinbu Senior High Technical School, Labone Senior High School and Rangoon School, visited the exhibition to view the artworks, interact with the artists and learn about the role of creative arts in inmate rehabilitation.
The engagement also provided an opportunity to educate the students about correctional services and encourage greater public understanding of the need to support the reformation and reintegration of inmates into society.
The second day brought together dignitaries and invited guests for the main event, which featured speeches, musical performances by the Master Piece Band, the Adehyeɛ Band from the Nsawam Medium Security Prison (NMSP) and Fearless Echoes, as well as a poetry recital by an inmate.
The performances showcased the creative talents of both inmates and prison officers, adding colour to the event.
Addressing the gathering, Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie said the exhibition was intended to provide inmates with an opportunity to transform waste materials into impressive works of art.
She said the initiative was also aimed at changing society’s perception of prisoners and their creative abilities, adding that proceeds from the auction of the exhibited works would help reshape public perceptions of prison life.
The event was chaired by the Se Mantse of the Shai Traditional Area, His Eminence HRM Drolor Bosso Adamtey, who described the exhibition as significant because rehabilitation and successful reintegration were central to the correctional mandate.
He said the initiative was also consistent with the Service’s Think Prisons 360 Degrees programme and commended the Director-General for creating a platform for inmates to showcase their talents.
The Special Guest of Honour, the Deputy Minister of Trade, Agribusiness and Industry, Mr Sampson Ahi, said the exhibition demonstrated that life was a journey and that resilience enabled people to overcome adversity and embrace transformation.
Guests were also given the opportunity to tour the exhibition centre, where the artworks and other creative pieces produced by Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie and the inmates were displayed.
The event ended with an auction of selected artworks to raise funds to support inmate reformation and the development of creative arts centres in prison facilities across the country.
BY TIMES REPORTER
SKIP THE QUEUE, TAP THE NEWS
Read the Ghanaian Times and The Spectator newspapers from the comfort of your device via TimesNewsPlus.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel now! https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbAjG7g3gvWajUAEX12Q
The post Prisons Service holds maiden art exhibition for inmates appeared first on Ghanaian Times.