The major challenge facing the Ghana Prison Service without a doubt is the overcrowding of inmates.
Hundreds of them have to share virtually non-existent facilities, making the process of reforming them a daunting task for the Prisons Service.
To give a further boost to attempts to decongest the country’s prisons, the Ghana Prisons Council Tuesday launched Project Efiase to help raise funds for the prisons. ‘Efiase’ is an Akan word which means prison.
Many shy away from anything associated with prisons but not those who gathered Tuesday night for the launch of the of the Efiase project.
Director General of Ghana Prisons, Matilda Baffour-Awuah noted that overcrowding in the country’s prisons has escalated by about 300 percent.
This, she said, makes it impossible for the current structures to hold the large number of inmates.
Chairman of the Prison Council, Rev. Dr Stephen Wengam described the prisons as “anybody’s second home”.
President John Dramani Mahama hinted he will push for an increase in the budgetary allocation of the Prisons Service.
At the launch yesterday, Joy News’ Seth Kwame Boateng was honoured for his role in helping bring attention to the plight of prisoners.
Seth’s documentary “Locked and Forgotten” catalogued the ordeal of prisoners. His documentary prompted the Chief Justice, Mrs. Georgina Wood to resuscitate the Justice for All Programme which has seen many remand prisoners regained their freedom.
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