PRISONS IN THE CENTRAL REGION ARE NOT CONGESTED

In recent times, attention has been drawn to the challenges facing prison facilities in Ghana, especially that of congestion.

This has triggered a myriad of reactions and calls for non-custodial sentences for minor offences and misdemeanours in order to decongest the prisons across the country.

It is believed that, the prisons could not practice social distance during the wake of the deadly corona virus pandemic due to the overcrowded nature of the prison settings in Ghana.

This and many issues, the officers in charge of Ghana prisons had to contend with due to lack of support from the government though the government is doing it bit, but it is believed that, the effort is very little to deal with challenge.

Meanwhile in an interview with the Public Relations Officer (PRO) for Ghana Prison Service for the Central region, Supt. Ziniel Bekyur Vincent in a discussion with Nana Kweku Arhin on Kastle 90.3 FM disclosed that, contrary to the views that the prisons are congested, central regional prisons are not overcrowded as perceived.

He went on to further give details on the numbers in the various facilities in the region.

According him, Central region has seven (7) prisons: Ankaful Maximum Security Prison that has 1404 in mates with a capacity of 2000, Main Camp Prison has capacity of 562 also with 449 inmates, Ankaful Prison Annex has capacity of 500 with a population of 599 and Communicable Disease Prison with a capacity of 78 has inmates of 78 all making the Ankaful Complex Prison.

He also disclosed that Ankaful Maximum Prison has one of the best facilities. Maximum number of inmates within the prison is 10 with beds, fan and a television set. There is a football park with 11 football teams who competes within the facility.

He further noted that Winneba Local has an inmate’s capacity of 166, with current inmates’ occupancy of 171 whilst Osamkrom near Agona Swedru has 125 inmates with a capacity of 123 and Awutu Camp Prison has 117 with a capacity of 250 making a total of 2943 prisoners in the region.

He admitted that there is a minor issue with inmates’ population within the prisons but not a major one as has been described.

He disclosed that some prisoners from the crowded prisons are being transferred to other prisons to ease the overcrowding challenges whilst  Others are being discharged after serving their jail term.                                          Source: Usman Adamu-Kastle Fm