Overcrowding in our prisons has become an added punishment for inmates – Ashanti Regional Prisons PRO, Richard Bukari
Speaking on Kessben’s Maakye Show, CSP Richard Bukari, the PRO of the regional command, and CSP Halimatu Mohammed, head of the prison’s education unit, shed light on the challenges facing the prison.
The Kumasi Central Prisons was built in 1901 and serves as the regional command center for the Ghana Prisons Service. The Ashanti Region has long led in housing prison units, but the main facility in Kumasi is now in poor shape.
CSP Bukari explained that the facility was never intended to house inmates, making it unsuitable for proper incarceration. Today, a single unit holds over 100 inmates—far above international standards. Overcrowding has led to outbreaks of contagious diseases, affecting both inmates and officers.
“This is an added punishment for inmates, which was never the goal,” he said.
He praised the Church of Pentecost for its efforts in building prison camps across the country, helping ease congestion in the system.
On the proposed relocation of the Kumasi Central Prisons, CSP Bukari noted that progress has been slow but commended the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, for pushing in the right direction.
“Our current location in Kejetia isn’t safe. People throw drugs and harmful items over the wall. We manage by staying alert,” he explained. He stressed the need for supporting facilities like hospitals, staff housing, and courtrooms.
He also called for reforms in sentencing, especially for minor crimes. “Keeping someone in jail for two years over petty theft is not necessary.”
CSP Mohammed highlighted ongoing efforts to rehabilitate inmates. The prison offers education to dropouts who want to continue their studies and teaches practical skills like crafts and arts, helping inmates rebuild their lives after release.
Both officers appealed to stakeholders and the public to support the Ghana Prisons Service in creating a system that benefits both inmates and society.
By:Julia Adu-Mensah
