Deep cracks on the perimeter wall of the Kumasi Prisons has become a major security worry to the prison authorities.
Deputy Controller of Prisons (DCOP) William Ofori Anoff, the Ashanti Regional Commander, has warned that any sudden collapse of the wall could present serious problems – trigger a pandemonium.
He told the Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Sarpong, that although there is a chain-link buffer fence behind the weakened structure, the situation remains unsafe.
He said the wall needs to be fixed; it cannot wait and must be done quickly.
The prison built to hold about 600 people is now housing prisoners in excess of 2,100.
The Regional Minster had visited the facility to acquaint himself with the challenges facing it and assess what could be done to make things better.
Mr Anoff complained about the congestion there and said it had become increasingly difficult to take in additional convicts.
He therefore made a plea to the police to stop sending crime suspects to the facility.
The other headache is the lack of medical supplies at the infirmaries, something that had led to huge unpaid medical bills of sick prisoners sent to the public hospitals for treatment.
He said an average debt of about GH¢4,000 are incurred every month and this comes amid shrinking government funding.
Mr. Sarpong assured the prison officers of government’s support.
Source: GhanaWeb
