The former Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has called for a comprehensive overhaul of Ghana’s prison system, proposing a dedicated prison hospital, improved welfare for prison officers, regulated conjugal visits and the passage of a new Prison Reform Act.
He has also urged Parliament to lead efforts to modernise correctional facilities, improve inmate classification and expand prison agriculture, arguing that the country’s correctional system must place greater emphasis on rehabilitation, human dignity and productivity.
The proposals were contained in a statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, by his spokesperson, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, following what he described as reflections by Mr Boasiako on prison conditions since his remand on July 20, 2026.
According to the statement, the reflections are informed by regular visits to the NPP politician, during which he had opportunities to interact with prison officers and inmates and observe the conditions under which the Ghana Prisons Service operates.
Chairman Wontumi believes that the system requires urgent structural reforms to move beyond punishment and ensure that inmates receive adequate healthcare, counselling, skills training and other support to facilitate their eventual reintegration into society.
“Not all prisoners are prisoners,” the statement quoted him as saying, emphasising the need for a correctional system that prioritises rehabilitation alongside the lawful custody of offenders.
A major concern raised by Chairman Wontumi is the provision of healthcare to inmates, particularly those suffering from serious and infectious diseases.
He alleged that many prison facilities lack dedicated, well-equipped hospitals, ambulances and standby generators, making it difficult to provide timely medical attention to inmates in critical condition.
The statement further claimed that inmates suffering from conditions including tuberculosis are being managed under difficult circumstances.
To address the situation, Chairman Wontumi called on the government to construct an ultra-modern prison hospital capable of serving correctional facilities across the country.
As an immediate intervention, he proposed establishing emergency referral arrangements with the 37 Military Hospital and the Police Hospital to ensure that inmates requiring specialised treatment receive prompt medical attention.
He argued that healthcare should be an essential component of prison administration and that the medical needs of inmates should not be overlooked because of their incarceration.
Chairman Wontumi also wants the government to review the salaries, accommodation and general conditions of service of officers of the Ghana Prisons Service.
According to him, improving the welfare of prison officers is necessary to strengthen the institution and enable personnel to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
He maintained that prison reform must address the needs of both inmates and the officers responsible for their custody, security and rehabilitation.
He therefore appealed to the government to prioritise prison officers’ welfare as part of a broader programme to modernise the service.
The former NPP regional chairman expressed concern about the placement of inmates with different offences, security profiles and legal statuses in the same facilities.
The statement alleged that minor offenders are sometimes housed alongside convicted armed robbers, while individuals facing treason and terrorism charges are held with ordinary inmates.
Chairman Wontumi warned that such arrangements could create security risks and undermine rehabilitation efforts.
He called for a more effective inmate classification system that considers the nature of offences, the legal status of prisoners, security requirements, medical needs and rehabilitation objectives.
He believes that placing inmates in appropriate facilities would improve prison management, strengthen security and create a better environment for rehabilitation.
Chairman Wontumi also highlighted concerns about young men, particularly those aged between 18 and 35, whom he said are serving prison terms or being held in connection with defilement cases.
He argued that prolonged incarceration without adequate counselling and rehabilitation programmes could have adverse consequences for inmates’ psychological and social well-being.
The statement also raised claims about same-sex activity among inmates and called for clearer policies on inmate classification, behavioural support and the management of LGBTQI+ issues in prisons.
However, it did not provide statistical evidence to establish the prevalence of the offences or behaviours described.
Chairman Wontumi called on the relevant authorities to strengthen counselling services and develop appropriate policies to protect inmates’ welfare while maintaining safe and orderly correctional facilities.
In another major proposal, Chairman Wontumi called for designated private visitation areas where inmates could meet their spouses and children under regulated conditions.
He argued that incarceration should not unnecessarily destroy family relationships, stressing that spouses and children should not suffer additional hardship because a family member has been imprisoned.
“It is the prisoner who is in prison, not the children or spouse,” the statement said.
He believes that structured family visits, including regulated conjugal visitation where permitted by law and prison policy, could help preserve marriages, maintain family bonds and reduce tensions among inmates.
The proposal would require appropriate guidelines on eligibility, privacy, security and the protection of children, as well as safeguards for inmates, visitors and prison personnel.
According to Chairman Wontumi, maintaining meaningful family relationships could contribute to inmates’ rehabilitation and help prepare them for reintegration into society after their release.
The statement further raised concerns about overcrowding and the risk of infectious diseases spreading within correctional facilities.
Chairman Wontumi alleged that inmates with tuberculosis are sometimes accommodated alongside healthy prisoners, potentially exposing others to infection.
He called for improved medical screening, appropriate isolation arrangements and better healthcare infrastructure to prevent the spread of communicable diseases.
He said the concerns strengthens the case for a dedicated prison hospital, improved medical equipment and closer collaboration between the Ghana Prisons Service and public health institutions.
Chairman Wontumi has also appealed to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to support the Ghana Prisons Service with equipment to expand agricultural production.
According to the statement, the service has access to extensive land and a workforce that could be utilised to increase food production and support its operations.
However, he claimed that the service has only one tractor available for agricultural activities and garbage-related work.
He called for the provision of tractors and other agricultural equipment to enable prison farms to operate more efficiently.
He believes that strengthening prison agriculture could help reduce food-related expenditure, promote self-sufficiency and equip inmates with practical farming skills that could support their livelihoods after release.
The proposal forms part of his broader call for prisons to become centres of productive work, vocational training and rehabilitation rather than focusing primarily on confinement.
Chairman Wontumi has proposed greater collaboration between prison authorities and other institutions within Ghana’s justice system.
He called for regional prison commanders to be included in relevant jury-related and justice-sector deliberations, arguing that their experience in managing inmates could contribute to discussions about incarceration and rehabilitation.
“The real job begins after judgement,” the statement quoted him as saying.
He believes that the justice system’s responsibilities should extend beyond determining guilt and imposing sentences to include the effective management, rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.
He argued that closer cooperation between prison administrators, judicial institutions and other justice-sector stakeholders could improve correctional management and strengthen rehabilitation programmes.
The proposal would, however, require consideration within the existing constitutional and statutory mandates of the relevant institutions.
Chairman Wontumi also expressed concern about what he described as limited structural investment in Ghana’s prison infrastructure since 1962, apart from certain interventions, including water production.
He called for a comprehensive modernisation programme involving government and private-sector investment.
His proposals include the construction of modern correctional facilities and factories to support vocational training, productive activities and the rehabilitation of inmates.
He said such investments should also address healthcare, sanitation, security, accommodation and facilities for skills development.
According to him, modern infrastructure would improve conditions for inmates and prison officers while strengthening the overall effectiveness of the correctional system.
Chairman Wontumi has made a special appeal to Parliament to spearhead the proposed reforms, describing prison welfare as a human rights and national development issue.
He called on the Speaker of Parliament to lead a national conversation on the future of Ghana’s prison system.
He also urged the Majority and Minority caucuses to work together, irrespective of their political differences, to pass a new Prison Reform Act.
According to the statement, the proposed legislation should be accompanied by adequate budgetary allocations for a dedicated prison hospital, ambulance services, standby generators and agricultural equipment.
He further called on Parliament’s Select Committees on Defence and Interior, Health, and Food and Agriculture to undertake working visits to prisons across the country.
The visits, he said, would enable the committees to assess conditions firsthand, identify urgent needs and recommend practical interventions.
Chairman Wontumi argued that Parliament’s involvement would be critical to securing the legislative changes, funding and institutional cooperation required to reform the system.
He appealed to the Speaker, Majority Leader, Minority Leader, Attorney-General, Chief Justice and the government to make prison welfare a priority.
Beyond Ghana, Chairman Wontumi called for a broader transformation of prison administration across Africa, urging countries on the continent to place greater emphasis on rehabilitation, human dignity and the productive reintegration of inmates.
He also suggested that the terminology used to describe prisons should be reconsidered as part of efforts to change public perceptions and promote a more rehabilitative approach to correctional management.
Reflecting on his experience since July 20, 2026, he expressed concern that the current system is not achieving the level of rehabilitation he believes is necessary.
“At this experience since July 20th till date, prison doesn’t reform as it should be. I pray that the entire Africa will learn from Ghana,” the statement quoted him as saying.
He expressed hope that Ghana could lead efforts to develop a modern correctional system that other African countries could learn from.
Despite the concerns raised in his reflections, Dr Boakye-Danquah said Chairman Wontumi remains in high spirits.
The statement presented the proposals as a call for government, Parliament and other relevant institutions to address longstanding challenges in the prison system through legislative reforms, improved infrastructure and greater investment in inmate welfare.
By 1960news.com
