Just 5 Days After Wontumi’s 20-Year Jail Sentence, Government Suddenly Triples Prison Feeding Money

Ghanaians have reacted to the government’s decision to increase the daily feeding allowance for prisoners, following the recent 20-year jail sentence handed to New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi.

The Interior Ministry’s Press Secretary, Julius Kwame Anthony, confirmed on Joy Prime that the feeding allowance had been raised from GH¢1.80 to GH¢5.00 per inmate per day.

He explained that the increase was part of ongoing reforms aimed at improving the welfare and living conditions of prisoners across the country. He also stressed that the decision was not made to favour any particular inmate.

However, the announcement has attracted public attention because it came shortly after Chairman Wontumi was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison with hard labour over illegal mining offences involving the Samreboi concession in the Western Region.

The conviction has generated political controversy, with the NPP describing the former as a political prisoner and promising to challenge the ruling in court. Some party members have also called on President Mahama to consider granting him a pardon.

Although government representatives insist that the feeding allowance review had been planned weeks before the sentencing, the timing has continued to fuel public debate.

Some Ghanaians have questioned whether the increase is simply part of a nationwide policy to improve prison conditions or whether it is somehow connected to Wontumi’s imprisonment. The government, however, maintains that the adjustment applies to prisoners generally.

Newpower300 feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com