Stigmatising ex-convicts ‘archaic’ – Rev. Wengam

Ghanaians should welcome ex-convicts back into society with open arms rather than ostracising them, conduct that is “totally wrong” and “unacceptable”, Rev Stephen Wengam, Chairman of the Ghana Prisons Service Council, has said.

According to him, several prominent persons in Ghana and in other parts of the world had been to prison but came out and become great leaders and very influential persons, hence it was out of place to reject former prisoners.

Speaking in an interview with Chief Jerry Forson, host of Ghana Yensom on Accra100.5FM on Tuesday September 20, Rev Wengam said: “Prisoners are normally punished four times. Apart from the court incarcerating them, they are subjected to inhuman and deplorable conditions, lack skills training, and suffer stigma once they are out [of prison]. Why do we do that?

“If Kwame Nkrumah went to prison but became president, Nelson Mandela went to prison but became president, JB Danquah, one of Ghana finest went to prison, Joseph, Paul [and] Jeremiah, (all Bible characters) went to prison, then on what basis do we have to see ex-convict as criminals?”

According to him, of Ghana’s prison population of 15,000, 21 per cent are remandees whose cases are pending before the courts but who also have had to endure torment from people they know.

“And, so, I will appeal to Ghanaians [to avoid stigmatising them]… Others have been to prison in Ghana and they are really helping the country after their release so the stigmatisation mentality is archaic,” he added.

“You are stigmatising the ex-convicts. Do you know what will happen to you tomorrow? So, I will appeal to Ghanaians that if they are released we should embrace them.”