Wontumi will have comfortable feeding experience in prison, grant increased to GH₵5 - Anthony

The Press Secretary at the Ministry of the Interior, Julius Kwame Anthony, has said New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, will experience improved conditions in prison following the government’s decision to increase the daily feeding grant for inmates from GH₵1.80 to GH₵5.00.

Speaking on Joy Prime on Saturday, July 25, 2026, Anthony said the increase was part of broader reforms aimed at improving the welfare of prisoners and enhancing conditions in Ghana’s correctional facilities.

He explained that the adjustment was not linked to any individual case but formed part of government’s commitment to improving inmate welfare.

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"Chairman Wontumi would have a very comfortable experience going forward because feeding has been improved and the decongestion programme will ensure there is much more space," he said.

Anthony noted that before the administration of President John Dramani Mahama and the leadership of Interior Minister Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, prisoners were receiving a daily feeding allocation of GH₵1.80.

According to him, the increase to GH₵5.00 demonstrates government’s efforts to address long-standing concerns about the conditions of inmates.

"Prior to the John Dramani Mahama presidency and the leadership of Honourable Muntaka at the Ministry of the Interior, prisoners were being fed on GH₵1.80. Due to the work by government, that amount has now been increased to GH₵5.00," he stated.

The Interior Ministry’s spokesperson also highlighted legislative measures being implemented to reduce overcrowding in prisons, including the passage of the Community Service Bill.

He also said the initiative would help create more space in correctional facilities and improve the overall living conditions of inmates.

"We have passed a Community Service Bill with the aim of decongesting the prisons. The decongestion will ensure that there is much more space for inmates while improving overall conditions within the facilities," Anthony added.

He, however, stressed that the reforms were designed to benefit all persons in lawful custody and should not be viewed as a special arrangement for Chairman Wontumi.

"Government is committed to ensuring improved conditions for prisoners," he emphasised, adding that the enhanced feeding grant and other measures formed part of a wider prison reform agenda.

ANAS/EB

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