The Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights has paid a monitoring visit to the Nsawam Medium Security Prison to assess the conditions at the facility. The Committee Chairman, Hon. Ernest Anim, stated that the Speaker of Parliament, Rt. Hon. Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, is passionate about human rights, which led to the creation of the Committee.
The Eastern Regional Commander and Officer-in-Charge of the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, DDP Patrick Thomas Seidu, highlighted the challenges facing the facility, including overcrowding, with 3,548 inmates against an original capacity of 717. He also cited a low feeding rate of GHS 1.80 per inmate per day, which has not been increased since 2011, and the absence of scanners to prevent contraband.
The Ranking Member of the Committee, Hon. James Agalga, emphasized the need to protect citizens’ rights and advocated for the abolition of the death penalty to safeguard the sanctity of life. The Committee’s visit aims to ensure that the rights of inmates are protected and to identify areas for improvement.
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