Pull-out ceremony held for N/Regional Commander of Prisons
The Ghana Prisons Service (GPS) last Friday organised a pull-out ceremony for the outgoing Northern Regional Commander of the GPS Deputy Director of Prisons (DDP) Mr Abundant Robert Kwodan Awolugutu, who is leaving after 34 years of dedicated service.
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A parade, witnessed by members of the Northern Regional Security Council (REGSEC), a cross -section of the public, family and friends of Mr Awolugutu, was held at the forecourt of the Tamale Central Prisons.
Farewell speech
Mr Awolugutu expressed gratitude to God for His favours and to the officers and men of the service for their understanding and cooperation and his family and loved ones for their unflinching support which he said helped him in the discharge of his duties. He advised officers to eschew negative behaviour such as laziness, lateness, absenteeism, excessive alcoholic intake, anonymous letter writing and gossiping, which he noted tarnished the image of the service.
He handed over the baton of leadership of the Northern Regional Command of the GPS to Deputy Director of Prisons (DDP), Mr Leonald Kwesi Dah, who until his promotion was the Deputy Regional Commander.
Achievements
Mr Awolugutu said during his tenure, he succeeded in establishing a counselling board to identify and address the psycho-social needs of inmates and officers.
He also supervised the partial concreting of the Tamale Central Prison yard.
He added that inmates of the Tamale Prisons were also registered with the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to enable them to have access to medical care.
The former commander also facilitated the procurement of materials for the training of inmates in various trades.
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Mr Awolugutu also inspired unity and discipline among staff and also established a benevolent fund to take care of the emergency needs of officers.
Dedication
The Northern Regional Minister, Mr Abdallah Abubakari, described the out-going GPS commander as someone who was dedicated to his work.
According to him, Mr Awolugutu offered useful contributions and advice at REGSEC meetings.
On behalf of the REGSEC, the minister presented a smock to Mr Awolugutu and wished him well in his retirement.
Profile
Mr Awolugutu was recruited into the GPS as a nurse after obtaining a Registered Nursing Certificate in 1980 from the Tamale Nursing Training College. He rose to become an Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) in 1992 after pursuing an advance nursing programme at the University of Ghana, Legon, leading to the award of a Diploma in Nursing Administration in 1990.
By dint of hard work, Mr Awolugutu further climbed the ranks and became a Deputy Director of Prisons, a rank on which he retired.