Ouagadougou: Five hundred inmates from 22 prisons in Burkina Faso will participate in a community service project over the next five months, engaging in activities such as cleaning 150 km of gutters, removing 1,500 m³ of garbage, clearing 300 hectares of public spaces, and planting 10,000 trees. In return for their efforts, these prisoners will earn reductions in their sentences, announced Captain Ollo Palenfo, Secretary General of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Access to Land.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Captain Ollo Palenfo detailed this initiative, which is part of the labor-intensive work program (HIMO) supported by the prison administration. The project, named HIMO-Ziniar©, is scheduled to launch officially on August 2, 2025, in Ziniar©. This initiative is a collaboration between the Ministry of Infrastructure and Disenclavement and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights, aligning with the vision of Captain Ibrahim Traor©, the Head of State, to use community service as a tool for social reintegration and development.
"For every month of community service, the inmate's sentence will be reduced by three months," Captain Palenfo stated at a press conference held in Ouagadougou. This approach not only aims to enhance the living environment through sanitation and environmental protection but also offers inmates a path to social rehabilitation by instilling values of work and dignity.
The Director General of the Prison Administration, Sabila Sawadogo, emphasized that this initiative tackles challenges such as prison overcrowding and the high costs of prisoner maintenance, which is borne by the state. He assured that security measures are in place to prevent escapes and highlighted the enthusiasm among prisoners eager to participate in this opportunity for a hopeful future.