The Ghana Prisons Service says it is working within its means to change the location of three prison camps in the Accra metropolis. The three camps are the James Fort Prison located at James Town, the Prisons Training Institutes at Cantonment and the Borstal Institute at Roman Ridge. The camps are to be relocated to a place near Dodowa in the Greater Accra Region. The camps are being relocated because of concerns expressed about congestion and security.
The Director General of Prisons, Richard Kuurie says it is not also ideal for prisons to be located within the city. According to him, the yearly rituals performed by the James Town Traditional Council for their buried ancestors at the James Fort Prison could lead to the escape of some prisoners. Added to that is the fact that the forts are old and not conducive for human settlements.
Mr Kuurie also noted that most of the prisoners at the Borstal Institute always run away to town due to the location. The citing of the prisons at Dodowa is also to create the opportunity for the prisons to be equipped with modern teaching aids to enhance training.
