Wontumi Breaks Silence on Prison Experience, Proposes 12 Major Reforms to Ghana’s Prisons

Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has proposed a comprehensive overhaul of Ghana’s prison system following his incarceration earlier this year.

In a statement issued on his behalf by his spokesperson, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, on October 27, 2026, Wontumi presented a 12-point reform proposal outlining measures he believes could improve conditions for inmates and prison officers.

The proposals include expanding prison infrastructure to ease overcrowding, improving access to healthcare, introducing regulated conjugal visits, classifying inmates according to their offences and security risks, and strengthening rehabilitation programmes.

Wontumi said his experience in prison since July 20, 2026, had given him a closer understanding of the challenges confronting inmates and officers of the Ghana Prisons Service.

He has consequently appealed to the Speaker of Parliament, the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, the Attorney-General, the Chief Justice and the government to prioritise the proposed reforms.

A major concern raised in the document is overcrowding and the risk of infectious diseases spreading within correctional facilities.

Wontumi expressed concern about reports of inmates with tuberculosis sharing sleeping spaces with prisoners who are not infected, calling for urgent improvements in sanitation, disease prevention and general living conditions.

He also proposed the establishment of a modern prison hospital to provide specialised medical care to inmates across the country.

According to him, inadequate healthcare facilities, ambulances and standby generators in some prisons make it difficult to respond effectively to serious medical emergencies.

As an immediate measure, he suggested that arrangements be established with the 37 Military Hospital and the Police Hospital to provide emergency medical support while longer-term healthcare infrastructure is developed.

Another key recommendation concerns the classification of inmates according to the nature of their offences and the level of security risk they pose.

Wontumi argued that minor offenders should be separated from convicted armed robbers, while individuals facing serious charges, including treason and terrorism, should be managed under appropriate classification arrangements.

He also called for stronger counselling and rehabilitation programmes, particularly for younger inmates.

He maintained that appropriate classification and behavioural support were necessary to address the needs of young prisoners, including those serving sentences for defilement-related offences.

On family welfare, Wontumi proposed the creation of designated private spaces where inmates could receive visits from their spouses and children.

He argued that imprisonment should not unnecessarily worsen the hardship experienced by prisoners’ families.

He believes regulated family and conjugal visitation could help preserve marriages, reduce tension among inmates and contribute to their rehabilitation and eventual reintegration into society.

The former NPP regional chairman further urged prison authorities to establish clear guidelines for the classification and management of LGBTQI+ inmates, arguing that a defined policy framework was needed to guide their treatment within correctional facilities.

Improving the welfare of prison officers also featured prominently in the proposals. Wontumi called on the government to review their salaries, accommodation and conditions of service, stressing that better working conditions were important to strengthening the Prisons Service and improving the management of correctional institutions.

He also proposed greater support for prison farms from the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, including the provision of modern agricultural machinery and other essential equipment.

According to Wontumi, although the Prisons Service has access to land and labour for agricultural activities, equipment shortages limit its productivity.

He cited the reported availability of only one tractor for farming and waste-management operations as an indication of the challenges facing the service.

On infrastructure and economic opportunities, he called for increased government and private-sector investment in modern prison facilities and factories.

He argued that greater investment could improve living conditions while creating productive activities and skills-development opportunities for inmates.

Wontumi also proposed involving regional prison commanders in relevant justice-sector deliberations, including discussions connected to jury proceedings.

He maintained that prison officials should have a stronger voice in decisions affecting the correctional process because of their direct responsibility for managing individuals after sentencing.

The proposal further calls for Parliament to introduce a new Prison Reform Act to provide a stronger legal and financial framework for improving correctional facilities nationwide.

He urged the Speaker of Parliament and the Majority and Minority caucuses to work together towards the proposed legislation, including securing funding for a dedicated prison hospital, ambulances, standby generators and agricultural equipment.

Wontumi also called on parliamentary select committees responsible for Defence and Interior, Health, and Food and Agriculture to undertake visits to prisons across the country to assess conditions and identify areas requiring urgent intervention.

Beyond Ghana, he argued that the country could lead efforts to transform prison systems across Africa by placing greater emphasis on rehabilitation, inmates’ welfare and productivity rather than punishment alone.

He also suggested reconsidering the terminology used to describe prisons as part of a broader shift in how correctional institutions are perceived and managed.

He urged the government, Parliament and relevant justice-sector institutions to treat prison reform as a national priority, stressing the importance of improved healthcare, safer living conditions, effective rehabilitation and better support for prison officers.

Source: https://mobile.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Conjugal-Visits-LGBTQ-and-More-Inside-Wontumi-s-12-point-prison-reform-proposal-2058613

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