Prison Officer in Trouble

Lance Corporal Stephen Azofokpe, a Prison Officer of the Ho Central Prison, has been handed over to the police for arrest and prosecution for possessing leaves suspected to be Indian hemp in the prison yard.

The leaves were found on him when the Volta Regional Prison Commander caused a random search to be conducted on the night shift who were to take over from late shift officers.

The Regional Commander handed the officer to the police and reported the issue to the Prisons Headquarters in Accra.

Superintendent of Prisons and Chief Public Relations Officer Solomon Antwi disclosed that the officer has subsequently been interdicted and departmental penalizing proceedings instituted against him for his possible formal exit from the Prisons Service.

He said this action, albeit, it is accepted the police will persist with their investigations for ultimate prosecution of the officer.

He said this unfortunate incident has happened at a time when strenuous efforts are being made to inject sanity into the Prisons Service.

Mr. Antwi emphasised the Prisons authorities' determination to weed out misfits from the service to keep the prisons safe to effectively work towards reforming prisoners.