Overcrowding at Kumasi Central Prisons Sparks Urgent Calls for Reform
The Kumasi Central Prisons, originally designed to house 500 inmates, now holds 1,627 individuals, including both convicts and remand prisoners. This severe overcrowding has placed immense pressure on resources, especially with the daily feeding grant of just GH¢1.80 per inmate. The limited budget has resulted in poor nutrition for inmates, contributing to health challenges within the facility.
Regional Commander James B. Mwinyelle highlighted the dire consequences of overcrowding, which include inadequate medical care, poor living conditions, and a lack of exercise space. The prison also struggles to provide basic necessities like soap, requiring GH¢8,000 monthly for carbolic soap alone. The daily diet of inmates is minimal, with rice served only during Christmas and meals typically consisting of ‘Banku’ and ‘Keta boys’ soup.
Commander Mwinyelle has called for a significant increase in the feeding grant to GH¢7–GH¢10 per inmate per day to meet current food and market prices. He also stressed the urgent need to reform Ghana’s criminal justice system, advocating for non-custodial sentences like community service to reduce overcrowding in prisons.
The overcrowding crisis underscores a broader systemic issue in Ghana’s prison system, with poor infrastructure and limited resources hindering rehabilitation efforts. Mwinyelle urged the public and government to take an active interest in improving prison conditions to create a more humane and effective correctional system.
Addressing the overcrowding and resource challenges in Kumasi Central Prisons requires immediate action, including financial investment and legal reforms, to safeguard the dignity and well-being of inmates.