34 Pardoned Prisoners Still in Jail

Investigations by the Ghanaian Chronicle has established that thirty-four Prisoners who benefited from a Presidential pardon at Nsawam Prison last year are still languishing in jail. One of the prisoners who is known as Okyeame Onwanuye has since died. Two others whose names were given as Alhaji and Nkoah have gone blind.

Chronicle gathered that in April, 2001, the government of the NDC granted amnesty to a number of prisoners including the aged and the very sick inmates. However, prisoners who have served one-third of their sentences were released whilst those who were slated for the Amnesty were asked to go for a medical screening exercise. As a result of this decision, the government appointed a Special Committee in May 2001 to investigate their cases and make recommendation for their release.

Chronicle learnt that in September 2001, the Special Committee submitted its report to the Director General of Prisons in Accra. Records shown to the Chronicle revealed that one hundred and fifty six prisoners were to benefit from the Amnesty but thirty four were recommended by the Committee for release. Some of the names of prisoners who benefited from the Presidential pardon were Samuel Tei Thompson, Joseph Kojo, Yaw Okrah, Nana Frank Hagan, Akwasi Boahene, Kosi Glakpe, Kwame Awudi, Dr. Seidu Abudulai, Emmanuel Ahuma and Yaw Ahiachi.

Chronicle gathered that following instructions given by the Deputy Director of Prisons at Nsawam, prisoners who were classified as aged and very sick were interviewd and examined at the Prison's infirmary. After their interview names of those that were recommended were announced. To the dismay of the first batch of prisoners who benefitted from the Presidential Pardon, only Thirty-four were short listed and this was made up of twenty old inmates and fourteen very sick inmates.

Over a year after the prisoners had been hinted of their freedom, they are still languishing in jail with the attendant frustration and disappoinment. But Mr Richard Kuree, Director of the Ghana Prisons Service has raised the hopes of the prisoners again when he told the Chronicle in an interview yesterday that the Prison Service is very much aware of the plight of the prisoners and is pushing to have them released.

He told the Chronicle that in June 2000 the government of the NDC established a Medical Board to examine the conditions of the prisoners and recommend names for Presidential Pardon. Mr Kuree said the Board finished its work on time and submitted names of some prisoners to the Ministry of Interior for the assent of former President Rawlings but for some unexplained reasons, ex-President Rawlings failed to exercise his presidential powers.

Mr Kuree said a review exercise was carried out in September 2000 with the expectation that the ex-president will append his signature before leaving office but he again failed to do that. He disclosed that with the coming into power of the New Patriotic Party, the Prison Service believes that President Kufour will address the issue with dispatch.

According to Mr Kuree the matter has been discussed with the new government which Chronicle learnt, is waiting for the swearing in of the Council of State before following up and dealing with the issue conclusively. Mr Kuree said he is opmtimistic that President Kuffour will grant the Prisoners an Amnesty immediately members of the Council of State is sworn in.