The increasing number of inmates at the Kumasi Central Prisons has indeed become a pressing issue. The facility, originally designed for 500 inmates, now houses 1,627 individuals, including both convicts and those on remand. This overwhelming number has placed a huge strain on resources, particularly in terms of feeding the inmates, with a feeding grant of just Gh¢1.80 per inmate per day. As a result, the prison authorities are struggling to provide adequate nutrition, leading to health issues among the prisoners.
Regional Commander James B. Mwinyelle highlighted the serious consequences of this overcrowding, including poor health conditions and the high cost of medical treatment. The lack of space for exercise and poor living conditions have only compounded the problems faced by the inmates and the authorities.
The facility is also struggling with basic necessities like soap, with the need for Gh¢8,000 monthly to provide carbolic soap for all inmates. The limited diet—mostly ‘Banku’ and ‘Keta boys’ soup, with rice served only during Christmas—is another area of concern.
Mwinyelle called for a review of the feeding grant to better reflect the cost of living and the market prices for food, as well as for an increase in the daily allowance to between Gh¢7 and Gh¢10 per inmate. He also stressed the need to reform the country’s criminal justice system, promoting non-custodial sentences such as community service to reduce overcrowding in the prisons. His call for greater public interest and support in improving the conditions of prisons is vital for creating a more humane and effective system.
This situation points to the broader need for systemic reforms in the treatment of inmates and the conditions of Ghana’s prisons.
Source: GNA
