Ghanaians React As Chairman Wontumi Is Requesting To Have Intimacy Inside Prison

According to a report by TV3 Ghana today being Wednesday, October 28, 2026, former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has proposed allowing regulated intimate visits for prisoners, arguing that the arrangement could help reduce tension in correctional facilities and protect marriages.

The proposal focuses on the challenges inmates face when they are separated from their spouses or partners for extended periods. Chairman Wontumi believes that providing controlled opportunities for couples to maintain intimacy could help preserve relationships and support prisoners’ emotional well-being.

Under the proposed arrangement, visits would be organised within clearly defined rules and security procedures. The objective would be to allow eligible inmates to maintain closer connections with their partners without compromising the safety and discipline of prison facilities.

Supporters of this approach may argue that maintaining family relationships can provide emotional support to prisoners and help them remain connected to their responsibilities outside prison. Strong family ties may also encourage inmates to prepare for a more stable return to society after completing their sentences.

The proposal also brings attention to the wider purpose of correctional facilities, which includes rehabilitation alongside the enforcement of sentences. Beyond punishment, rehabilitation efforts seek to help prisoners develop the capacity to reintegrate into their communities and avoid further offending.

However, implementing intimate visitation programmes would require careful planning. Authorities would need to establish eligibility criteria, security arrangements, privacy protections and appropriate facilities. Considerations relating to public health, consent and the rights of both inmates and their partners would also be essential.

Although the proposal does not automatically mean such a policy will be introduced in Ghana, it adds to discussions about prison conditions and the treatment of inmates.

Chairman Wontumi’s suggestion ultimately raises a question about whether regulated intimate visits could form part of a broader rehabilitation strategy. Further consideration by the relevant authorities would be necessary to assess its feasibility, potential benefits and associated risks.

See some of the reactions from Ghanaians below.