Kumasi Central Prison is the third biggest & 2nd most populated prison in Ghana – Ashanti Regional Prisons Commander, James B. Mwinyalle Ing
The Commander of the Ashanti Regional Prisons Service, James B. Mwinyalle Ing, has revealed that the Kumasi Central Prison is currently the third largest prison facility in the country by infrastructure, but shockingly ranks as the second highest in terms of inmate population.
Speaking on Kessben FM, Commander Mwinyalle stated that the Kumasi Central Prison is now housing over 1,600 inmates, a figure that far exceeds the facility’s original holding capacity, raising serious concerns about overcrowding, resource strain, and prisoner welfare.
“Kumasi Central Prison is the third biggest in terms of size, but we have the second largest number of inmates in the entire country, over 1,600,” he disclosed.
Built during the colonial era, Kumasi Central Prison was never intended to accommodate such high numbers. Commander Mwinyalle explained that the facility is stretched beyond its limits, with issues ranging from food shortages and poor sanitation to limited healthcare and security challenges.
The Commander also noted that feeding the current number of inmates requires enormous resources. As he mentioned in a previous interview, if rice is served, at least 16 bags of 50kg rice are needed per day, a reflection of the logistical pressures tied to the high inmate population.
Ghana has been battling prison overcrowding for years. While larger facilities such as Nsawam Medium Security Prison often dominate headlines, the situation at Kumasi Central Prison underlines that the problem is not isolated. Many regional prisons are now dealing with populations two to three times above their intended capacity.
According to officials, the high number of remand prisoners, delays in court processes, and the lack of alternative sentencing options for minor crimes all contribute to the growing congestion in prisons.
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