‘Despite Returning the Items, the MP Insisted I Should Be Sent to Nsawam’ – Prisoner Recounts

An inmate at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison has shared his story about how he ended up behind bars, claiming that even after returning items he had taken, a Member of Parliament insisted that he be prosecuted and jailed.

The prisoner, identified as Evans Otoo, is currently serving an eight-month jail term after failing to pay a court-imposed fine of GH¢3,000. According to him, the events leading to his imprisonment began after he took some items belonging to a Member of Parliament but later returned them.

Speaking about the incident, Otoo explained that he believed returning the items would help resolve the issue without the need for further legal action. However, the matter was eventually reported to the police and taken to court.

“Despite returning the items, the MP insisted I should be sent to Nsawam,” Otoo recounted while sharing his experience in prison.

According to him, the case proceeded through the legal system, and the court eventually found him guilty of the offence. As part of the ruling, the court ordered him to pay a fine of GH¢3,000, with an alternative custodial sentence if he failed to pay the amount.

Otoo said he was unable to raise the money within the required time, leaving him with no option but to serve the prison term attached to the fine. As a result, he was transferred to the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, located in the Eastern Region of Ghana.

The Nsawam facility is one of the country’s largest correctional institutions and houses hundreds of inmates serving sentences for various offences.

Reflecting on the situation, Otoo said he had hoped the matter could have been resolved differently, especially after he returned the items involved in the case. However, the legal process continued and eventually resulted in his incarceration.

His story has drawn public attention and sparked discussions about the justice system and the impact of fines with alternative prison terms.

Legal experts explain that courts in Ghana often impose fines as part of sentencing, particularly for certain offences. In such cases, the court may also specify a prison term to be served if the offender fails to pay the fine.

As a result, individuals who cannot afford to pay the fines may end up serving jail terms instead.

Some observers have argued that this system can disproportionately affect people with limited financial resources, as they may be unable to pay the fines imposed by the court.

Others, however, maintain that the legal process must be respected and that individuals who commit offences must face the consequences outlined by the law.

Meanwhile, Otoo continues to serve his sentence at the Nsawam prison while reflecting on the circumstances that led to his conviction.

His account highlights the broader challenges surrounding the enforcement of court fines and the realities faced by some inmates who find themselves imprisoned due to their inability to meet financial penalties imposed by the courts.

Watch the video below:

Source: Thepressradio.com