The much-anticipated Creative Arts & Media Skills Development Training under the Action Against Recidivism (AAR) Initiative has officially commenced at the James Camp Prison, Roman Ridge, Accra, and the energy is inspiring.
On Monday, August 11, 2025, nineteen (19) inmates took their first steps into a transformative journey designed to equip them with practical, market-relevant skills in videography, photography, and media production. The excitement on their faces and the enthusiasm in their participation speak of brighter days ahead, even at this early stage.
The programme began with weeks of orientation, identification, and careful selection of participants, ensuring each inmate was both interested and committed. In the opening sessions, trainees were introduced to camera functions and basic cinematography techniques, laying the groundwork for storytelling skills that will empower them beyond prison walls.
Meanwhile, at the Senior Correctional Centre, orientation, identification, and registration of interested inmates began on Wednesday, August 6, 2025. Due to other scheduled activities at the facility, the process is still ongoing, but actual teaching and learning sessions are expected to commence before the end of the month.
This pioneering training is more than a skills programme. It’s an opportunity for participants to gain confidence, professional competence, and a second chance at building sustainable futures in the creative and media industries.
The PAQ Foundation, in collaboration with the Ghana Prisons Service, remains committed to this initiative as a pathway to reducing recidivism, equipping inmates with the skills to tell their own stories authentically and powerfully, while harnessing the evolving media landscape to build sustainable livelihoods.
By Peter Quao Adattor
