Council of State members visit Nsawam Medium Security Prisons

Professor Kofi Awoonor, Chairman of the Council of State has advised prisoners to use the prison experience as an opportunity to turn over a new leaf and prepare for a life of service to society, upon their release.

He gave the advice after members of the Council visited the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons to acquaint themselves with the prison environment and difficulties relating to the management of the facility.

A statement issued by Mr. R.P. Ankobiah, Acting Secretary of the Council said, "The visit, the first of its kind in the history of the country by the Council of State, formed part of its outreach programme designed to give members first-hand experience of the prison in the pursuit of its advisory role".

Members of the Council interacted with the officials, inmates and toured various parts of the prison, including the remand and condemned cells.

Among the issues discussed were; the large number of inmates who had been on remand for long periods of time, congestion in the male cells and the related question of amnesty and presidential pardon for some category of inmates.

Professor Awoonor promised to convey the sentiments of the inmates to government, and offered the Council’s advice on the basis of the impressions gathered during the tour.

A spokesperson of the inmates appealed to government to consider the introduction of a parole system where well behaved inmates and those who had demonstrated clear signs of reformation, and had served an agreed proportion of their prison term, could be released on parole and monitored.

He drew attention to some problems such as the dilapidated state of the prison’s structures and the absence of an ambulance to convey sick inmates to the hospital.

The inmates commended government for increasing their feeding fee, which had led to improvements in the quality of food provided for them.

They expressed their readiness to reform, after regaining their freedom.**