Profile of Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie- Director General of Ghana Prisons Service

President John Dramani Mahama has appointed the Deputy Director General of Prisons in charge of Finance and Administration, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie (ESQ.) as the new Director General of Prisons.

The announcement was made on 14^th March, 2025.

DGP. Baffoe-Bonnie takes over from Mr. Isaac Kofi Egyir who was appointed as Director General of Prisons on 28^th October, 2021, by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Her appointment makes her the second female Director General of Prisons, and the first female to have risen through the ranks to the enviable position in the Ghana Prisons Service.

Profile of DGP Baffoe-Bonnie

The newly appointed Director General of Prison Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie (ESQ.) is a seasoned corrections and security expert with over 37 years of dedicated service to the Ghana Prisons Service.

 

Joining the Prisons Service as a recruit in 1987 with an Advanced Level Certificate, Patience rose through the Junior officer ranks till 1995. After her first Degree from Legon in 1993, she joined the Senior Officer Corps after successfully completing the Cadet Course in 1994.

 

She has held various substantive leadership positions as well as acting command positions, including Classroom Instructor, Adjutant, Course Commander, Chief Legal Officer, Officer-In-Charge. She held various positions at the Directorate including:

 

• Director of Prison Health, Technical & Services;
• Director of Services;
• Director of Operations; and
• Deputy Director General (Finance and Administration).

 

She is known for effectively handling complex issues across different sectors, improving the welfare of staff, addressing legal and administrative matter, developing policies, restoring and harmonizing allowances, and leading reforms to benefit staff, inmates and stakeholders.

 

As Chief Legal Officer, she oversaw the review of the Prison Service and Parole Bills and helped pass regulations on prisons General Administration and Discipline.

 

At the James Camp Prisons, she introduced new ideas to improve prison management, focusing on Reformation, Rehabilitation and Reintegration. Her efforts made James Camp Prisons a model facility, recognized as the face of the Ghana Prisons Service, preferred workplace for officers and a key destination for donations. Her work also helped improve prison facilities across the country.

 

During the COVID-19 pandemic, DDP Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie (as she then was), serving as the Acting Director of Health for the Ghana Prisons Service, successfully advocated for support from national and international agencies, philanthropists, and religious organizations. Her efforts secured essential medical supplies and led the development and implementation of health policies to protect prison staff and inmates. She also negotiated with the judiciary to secure a temporary ban on direct remand to prisons and proposed designated reception facilities for new inmates. These measures contributed to Ghana Prisons achieving a zero-death record during the pandemic, making it one of the safest correctional systems globally.

 

She has led several initiatives to enhance prison security and public safety, focusing on capacity building, gender inclusivity, and improving working conditions. Through her leadership, she fostered inter-agency collaboration and contributed significantly to critical reforms in the criminal justice system both locally and internationally.

 

Without external support, she introduced year-round organic farming to reduce post-harvest losses and promote value addition. She also implemented skill training and creative arts programs as tools for inmate reformation and rehabilitation. Her initiatives prioritized staff welfare, career development, and the creation of safe workspaces while promoting income-generating projects to reduce reliance on government funding.

 

DGP Patience Baffoe-Bonnie holds a Barrister-at-Law and Qualifying Certificate from the Ghana School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with Social Work from the University of Ghana, Legon. She is an alumna of Tema Secondary, Winneba Secondary, and Nsawam Nana Osae Djan Experimental Primary School.

 

She has attended numerous local and international training programs, including courses on international criminal law and justice, corporate governance, strategic leadership, and workforce planning in the United Kingdom. She also contributed to the United Nations Mission in Liberia as a planner, advisor, and mentor.

 

Beyond her professional work, she enjoys painting, basketball, cooking, dancing, traveling, and spending time with children.

 

Her dedication and professionalism have earned her several awards, including:

 

• Female Pillar of Modern Public Service Award
• HD LeadHERS Xperience Award (Exceptional Award for Women in Leadership, 2023)
• Ghana Women’s Award (Outstanding Female Prisons Officer, 2013)

 

She is married with children.

 

She is the embodiment of professionalism, integrity, and quality service delivery. She believes that with the right direction, the Prison Service can be transformed into a modern correctional institution that meaningfully contributes to the economy and the national food basket while maintaining public safety.

 

DGP Baffoe-Bonnie comes with innovative ideas using available skills and services, with emphasis on Agriculture and Creative Arts as tools for reformation and expansion which will propel the Ghana Prisons Service to greater heights.

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