Overcrowding ripping Sunyani Prisons apart

Sunyani (B/A) Aug. 27, GNA - Seven hundred and eighty-three inmates made up of 611 convicts and 172 on remand occupy a space originally provided for 400 jailed people at the Sunyani Prisons.

As a result of the congestion and unhygienic conditions, inmates suffer from diseases including Tuberculosis, Malaria and Skin diseases

Assistant Chief Officer Moses Kwabena Asiedu, acting Brong-Ahafo Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Prisons Service disclosed this to the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Friday.

The PRO appealed to the Prison Council to liaise with the government to expand and improve infrastructure at the prisons.

Asst. Chief Officer Asiedu granted the interview in Sunyani after the Service held a send-off party in honour of Deputy Director of Prisons (DDP) Kwame Ackom Gyeedu, Regional Prisons Commander, who is on transfer to the Kumasi Central Prisons.

The acting regional PRO expressed concern about inadequate staffing and equipment which made it difficult to offer skill training in shoe making, basket weaving, electrical and tailoring to inmates.

"The re-integration of convicts into society is a shared responsibility and the general public must support the Prisons to mould convicts to become responsible citizens after serving their sentences", he added.

DDP Gyeedu served in Brong-Ahafo for 10 months and his administration saw the provision of security lights in and out of the prisons walls and the conversion of pan latrines at the Bola and Zongo quarters.

Other landmark achievements were the construction of internal inmates visit centre, provision of prepaid telephone for inmates as well as accommodation for about 53 officers of the service.