The Parliamentary Select Committee on Human Rights has met with officials from the Ghana Prisons Service and the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) to monitor the government’s compliance with human rights standards and also gain insights into the operations of the institutions.
The Committee aims to identify areas where support is needed to improve the living conditions of inmates at various prisons and further provide assistance to CHRAJ where necessary.
At a session with the officials from the Prisons Service, the Director-General of Prisons, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie (ESQ.), and her team emphasised the urgent need for government support to adequately care for inmates. Additionally, the pressing issue of sanitation, which is of great concern, was highlighted. Suggestions were made for the creation of NHIA cards specifically for inmates, which would be useful during their detention period.
Mrs Baffoe-Bonnie appealed for a well-funded prison hospital to meet the requirements of the Ghana Prisons Service and a state-of-the-art correctional institution for juveniles.
For her part, the Deputy Commissioner of CHRAJ, Mrs Mercy Larbi, presented a report listing their operations, as well as the challenges they encountered, including financial constraints and the inability to cover all administrative districts. The Deputy Commissioner urged the Committee to review and potentially increase the budget for the upcoming year. She further noted that staff faces challenges in migrating to other parts of the country for public education and investigations due to inadequate transportation.
The Chairman of the Committee and Member of Parliament for Kumawu Constituency, Hon. Ernest Yaw Anim, commended CHRAJ for their excellent work over the years and assured them that the Committee will engage with the government to provide them with the support required for effective and efficient delivery of their mandate.
He also assured the Ghana Prisons Service of the Committee’s support in the plan to build agricultural and technical schools and an industrial prison.
