Ghana’s Parliamentary Human Rights Committee has pledged urgent intervention to tackle the alarming overcrowding at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, and to confront deep-rooted human rights issues, including the stigmatization of women accused of witchcraft.
The committee, led by Chairman Ernest Yaw Anim, paid a visit to the Nsawam facility, built in 1960 to house just 717 inmates, but now holding an astonishing 3,548 prisoners. The conditions, described as dire, have sparked fresh calls for immediate reforms.
“This facility was built to accommodate only 717 people, but it now holds about 3,548 inmates,” Mr. Anim said. “This is a serious concern, and we will bring it to the fore. Parliament, as an institution, will work to ensure that the overcrowding here is addressed as soon as possible.”
Mr. Anim acknowledged the mental and physical toll such congestion places on inmates and prison staff, vowing to push for practical solutions, including reforms in sentencing, justice delivery, and infrastructure expansion.
But the committee’s scope of concern doesn’t end there. In a move signaling a broader agenda for human rights advocacy, Mr. Anim announced plans to visit so-called witch camps in northern Ghana. These camps, where women accused of witchcraft are often banished by their communities, have become a focal point for rights activists.
“The ‘I Am Not a Witch’ campaign, led by the MP for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, has drawn global attention to the plight of women accused of witchcraft,” Mr. Anim noted. “We will begin visits to all the witch camps in the North.”
The committee is also gearing up to launch nationwide human rights education campaigns. Mr. Anim emphasized that while some issues may appear minor to the public, they often mask deeper violations of dignity and freedom.
“We believe it’s important to highlight these injustices and raise awareness about what constitutes a violation of human rights,” he said.
With a renewed sense of urgency, the committee says it will collaborate with civil society groups and relevant institutions to improve Ghana’s human rights landscape, ensuring that justice, dignity, and humanity are not just ideals, but lived realities for all citizens.
