New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has called for improved welfare conditions for prison officers in Ghana following his reported 100 days in custody.
The appeal forms part of a broader set of recommendations aimed at addressing challenges within Ghana’s correctional system, including staff welfare, healthcare delivery, overcrowding and the rehabilitation of inmates.
According to a statement communicated through his spokesperson, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, Wontumi believes that improving the conditions under which prison officers work should be an important part of efforts to reform the country’s prison system.
He has called on the government to review the salaries, accommodation and general conditions of service of officers of the Ghana Prisons Service. The proposal is intended to address concerns about staff welfare and provide officers with better support as they carry out their responsibilities.
Prison officers play a central role in maintaining security, supervising inmates and supporting rehabilitation programmes. Their working conditions can also affect the delivery of services within correctional facilities, making staff welfare an important consideration in prison administration.
Beyond the welfare of officers, Wontumi has advocated improvements to healthcare services for inmates. One of his proposals is the establishment of a dedicated prison hospital to provide medical care to prisoners across the country.
As an interim measure, he has suggested stronger emergency referral arrangements with existing medical institutions, including the 37 Military Hospital and the Police Hospital, to ensure that inmates requiring urgent treatment can receive appropriate care.
He has also highlighted concerns about overcrowding and the need for a more structured system for classifying inmates. Under the proposed approach, prisoners would be accommodated according to the nature of their offences and their security risks, rather than placing people involved in minor offences alongside those convicted of more serious crimes.
Wontumi’s recommendations further emphasise the need to strengthen rehabilitation programmes in Ghana’s prisons. These include counselling, skills development and initiatives to prepare inmates for their eventual return to society.
He has argued that correctional facilities should serve not only as places of confinement but also as institutions that help inmates develop the skills and support needed to rebuild their lives after completing their sentences.
Infrastructure is another area covered by his reform agenda. He has called for greater investment in prison facilities, equipment and other essential services, with government and private-sector participation suggested as possible avenues for securing resources.
Wontumi has also urged lawmakers to consider legislative measures to support the proposed changes, including a new Prison Reform Act. He has called for cooperation between the Majority and Minority caucuses in Parliament to advance reforms and secure the necessary funding.
The proposals come amid continuing discussions about the challenges confronting correctional institutions, including the need to balance security, humane treatment, staff welfare and rehabilitation.
While Wontumi’s reported period in custody has informed his comments on prison conditions, the recommendations remain proposals requiring consideration by the relevant authorities. Their adoption would depend on policy decisions, available resources and any necessary legislative processes.
The broader objective, as outlined in his reform agenda, is to improve conditions for both prison officers and inmates while strengthening the role of Ghana’s correctional system in rehabilitation and public safety.
Source: Thepressradio.com
