MPs divided over "Amoateng Bill"

Accra, July 11, GNA - Members of Parliament were on Wednesday divided over whether the time was ripe for the passage of the Transfer of Convicted Persons Bill currently before the House. While some said the country was not ready, financially and institutionally, to provide shelter for convicted Ghanaian outside, others disagreed, saying the borders of the country should be opened to Ghanaian prisoners outside because they were kith and kin. The issue came up during the Second Reading of the Bill, which seeks to enable Ghanaians convicted outside the country to serve their sentences in Ghana and other foreign nationals convicted in Ghana to serve theirs in their countries.

The current Extradition Act 1960, (Act 22) only permits a person accused of an offence committed outside Ghana to serve the term of imprisonment in Ghana where the Republic of Ghana has an extradition agreement with the other country.

So far, there are no figures to indicate the number of Ghanaian prisoners outside but it is on record that about 100 Ghanaian prisoners are in jail in Thailand.

Mr. Yaw Baah, (NPP-Kumawu) who kicked the debate on Wednesday said, precaution was needed in passing the bill because the prisons were already congested and could not accommodate more prisoners from outside. He has, therefore, proposed a transitional provision in the bill to make room for a period to allow for the expansion of facilities before the implementation of the bill if it is to be passed.

Mr Francis Agbotse, (NDC-Ho West) said the congestion in the prisons was forcing the prisoners to take turns sleeping.

He said it was important that the justice system considers non-custodial sentences as a first option to de-congest the prisons. Mr Inusah Fuseini, (NDC-Tamale Central), took a contrary view and said some Ghanaian prisoners outside were suffering inhuman treatment and needed to come home to receive the comfort of their families. Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, (NPP-Akim Oda) said the country should not be made to pay for the cost of transferring prisoners back home.