Abena’s four year-old son sits in her lap, and calmness washes over him. As she holds on tightly, he falls asleep.
Just a few months ago, this wouldn’t have been possible.
Abena is a prisoner at Sunyani Female Prison. Until recently, children were not allowed to visit the prison for fear of ‘contamination’, and the only contact between them and their parents took place through a window. They could never touch.
Today, as a result of a policy directive from the Director-General of Prisons, visits by children are encouraged – an innovation in Ghana’s female prisons that has improved prisoner morale, strengthened their ties with family members, and brought Ghana in line with international standards and norms, such as the Bangkok Rules.
The change came about in part due to the advocacy of Chief Superintendent Mary Asante Sarfo, Officer in Charge of Sunyani Female Prison, who is one of a small but growing number of female senior figures in Ghana’s prison service. In the complex world of prison administration, where maintaining security is sometimes perceived to clash with the need for humane treatment, Mary has emerged as an inspirational leader.
Asian Woman Leadership 