Overcrowded inmates at the Sekondi Central Prison reportedly spent hours in knee-deep floodwaters after a heavy downpour.

According to a report by 3news, on May 29, 2026, a joint inspection by prison authorities and engineers from construction firm Viabuild has confirmed that poor drainage design is the main reason behind the recurring flooding.

Sekondi Prisons fraught with challenges

Safety Manager, Edward Lee Aflade, who was part of the team, sought to explain the technical failure.

“The inner drain is carrying volumes of water into the outfall, but the connecting ones lack the capacity to push it out. So, it stays until the flow reduces before it can connect,” he said.

He noted that the prison’s low elevation makes matters worse, as runoff from surrounding areas flows back into the facility during storms.

Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson, who visited the facilty, stressed that the flooding is only one of many reasons the prison urgently needs to be relocated.

“I’m not even saying this because of the flood situation alone, the location itself makes relocation necessary. It should be somewhere with more space and better security, away from the city centre,” he said.

NA/VPO