Friday, 25th July, 2025
Hon Ernest Yaw Anim
Kumawu
Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to make this urgent Statement on the need to address a matter of grave concern: the deplorable feeding rates and the inhumane living conditions in Ghana’s prisons.
Mr Speaker, following our recent fact-finding mission to the Nsawam Medium Security Prison and subsequent engagement with the management of the Ghana Prisons Service, the Committee has been left deeply alarmed by the realities within our correctional facilities. The daily feeding rate for prisoners in Ghana is a mere GH₵1.80, an amount that cannot provide even a basic nutritious meal in the economic climate of today.
This woefully inadequate figure not only undermines the health and dignity of inmates, but also exposes a regrettable neglect of their fundamental human rights. To put this into perspective, under the Ghana School Feeding Programme (GSFP), school children are allocated GH₵2 per day for their meals. While this amount is also insufficient, it is essential to recognise that these children return home to their families daily, where they may receive additional care and nourishment..
In contrast, prisoners have no other support system and are entirely dependent on the State for their nutrition and welfare. Their current feeding rate is not only inadequate but also a direct affront to human dignity. Many prisoners rely on the good will of family Members and charitable organisations to supplement their daily rations, a situation that is neither sustainable nor acceptable.
Mr Speaker, the consequences of this neglect are devastating. Widespread malnutrition among inmates, some of whom are serving long sentences without adequate nourishment. Overcrowding in facilities like Nsawam Medium Security Prison, holding over 3,500 inmates in a space designed for just 700. That is an overcrowding rate of over 400 per cent. Limited access to clean water, proper sanitation and medical care creates a breeding ground for disaster and despair. The absence of meaningful rehabilitation and reintegration programmes leaves many prisoners unprepared to re-enter society that is perpetuating the cycle of crime and poverty.
Mr Speaker, let us not forget that the majority of Ghana’s prison population, over 70 per cent, are remand prisoners or serving short sentences. Many are young people, petty offenders, women and even mothers with infants who should never be subjected to such inhumane treatment. Ghana as a signatory to the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, which is the Nelson Mandela Rules, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights have an obligation to uphold the dignity and fundamental human rights of all persons, including those in detention.
Mr Speaker, we cannot claim to be a just and democratic nation if we continue to treat the most vulnerable among us in such a manner. Being incarcerated does not mean being stripped of one’s humanity. Recommendations.
In light of these concerns, I call on the Government to;
(1) Immediately review and increase the daily feeding rate to an amount that reflects current market realities and ensure the nutritional needs of inmates are met.
(2) Allocate dedicated budgetary resources in the 2025 Midyear Budget to improve prison infrastructure, including sanitation, healthcare facilities and security.
(3) Undertake a nationwide prison reform agenda in collaboration with Parliament, CHRAJ, the Judiciary and the civil society to address systemic challenges, including overcrowding, poor health conditions and lack of rehabilitation programmes.
(4) Implement gender-sensitive policies to address the unique needs of women, children in conflict with the law and vulnerable groups within the prison system.
(5) Establish a bipartisan parliamentary enquiry into the state of Ghana’s prisons and report back to this House within three months with actionable recommendations.
(6) Fulfil Ghana’s international obligations by aligning prison conditions with global human rights standards, including the Nelson Mandela rules.
Mr Speaker, the measure of any society is not how it treats its privilege, but how it treats its most vulnerable. The men and women behind bars are Ghanaians, our brothers, sisters, and fellow citizens. I will continue to advocate for prison reforms, demand accountability and push for a correctional system that is just, humane and rehabilitative.
The Committee calls on the Ghana Prison Service, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Finance to work collaboratively to improve the general living conditions within our prisons, ensuring that inmates are treated humanely and by national international human rights standards. I wish to express my gratitude to CHRAJ for their relentless advocacy in protecting human rights in Ghana and to the Ghana Prisons Service, including the officers in charge of various facilities and the Director General of Prisons, Ms Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, for their dedication and openness in engaging with the Committee during our visit. Mr Speaker, the time for reform is now. Let us not wait for a crisis to spur us into action.
Thank you for your attention and I am grateful for the opportunity to make this Statement. Thank you.
Hon James Agalga
Builsa North
Thank you, Mr Speaker.
I want to commend the maker of the Statement, who happens to be the Chairman of the newly established Committee on Human Rights of which I am the Ranking Member. Mr Speaker, it is indeed true that as part of our mandate, we paid a working visit to the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons facility, and as a result of our engagement with the Prison authorities, quite a number of issues came to the fore, and the maker of the Statement amplified some of the issues that came up when we visited.
First of all, Mr Speaker, it is true that the feeding rates for prison inmates in this country is a blot on our conscience as a people. Mr Speaker, GH₵1.80 for three square meals a day is a blot on our conscience as a people. When this matter came to our attention, we took action. In fact, the authorities were duly notified, and some assurances were given to the effect that the feeding rate would be increased from GH₵1.80 to a minimum amount of GH₵5.00 for three square meals a day for an adult, not a child, an adult.
Mr Speaker, I think we should not politicise this matter and speak truth to power. This particular increment must be done immediately. There was an omission. We are reliably informed when the Budget was read for the first time. Now, when the issue was raised— Mr Speaker, these are human rights matters. These are human rights matters. Mr Speaker, with the greatest of respect, we paid a visit to the Nsawam Medium Prisons and so, if I have to touch on these issues that I am being asked to conclude— Mr Speaker, I crave your indulgence.
Mr Speaker, we are masters of our own rules and when it suits us, we are able to change the rules, because the exigencies and the circumstances warrant it, with the greatest of respect. Mr Speaker, the feeding rate is something that we need to immediately respond to. I am very passionate about this. We sit here, all of us are potential candidates for jail. We are potential candidates.
Mr Speaker, the second issue that came to our attention was the fact that the rate of congestion in our prisons is 40 per cent. So, in this country, congestion is 40 per cent. There is 40 per cent overcrowding in our prisons. But the Governments in the past took measures to resolve this problem. Yes, in 2015, the President Mahama Administration started the construction of a remand prison within the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons enclave.
Mr Speaker, unfortunately, works have stalled. Again, this is one intervention that should be done immediately so that we can separate our remand prisoners from convicts. At the moment, they are combined. That is legally untenable and so action needs to be taken in this regard.
Again Mr Speaker, time without number we have stated that in this country when minor offences are committed, the only option judges are constrained to exercise, the only option they have is to impose custodial sentences. Now, how do we resolve this? The resolution lies in the passage of a law which would allow for community service. Time without number we have made this point. It appears the time has come for action to be taken so that we can have a Community Sentence Bill brought before this House for quick passage. When that is done, the rights of our citizens would be best protected.
Lastly, Mr Speaker, one other issue which came to the fore when we visited the prisons was the plight of condemned prisoners. Giant steps were taken in this country to abolish the death penalty. Mr Speaker, we are not complete yet. We need to take action in respect of the constitutional provisions which ties the hands of Judges. For instance, convicts for the offence of treason. Treason is a matter that requires a referendum because those provisions are entrenched. So maybe as the Constitutional Review Commission continues to do its work this matter must be brought to their attention so that we can amend the constitution in order that we are able to achieve abolition in its entirety. At the moment it is only those offences, murder and the rest of them which are related under the Criminal and Adult Offences Act which have so far been abolished.
So Mr Speaker, thank you and let me conclude by saying that when it comes to human rights matters it is not for nothing that the Human Rights Committee was created. And so, when we present reports before this House, they need to be taken very seriously.
Thank you for the opportunity Mr Speaker.
Hon Frank Annoh-Dompreh
Nsawam/Adoagyiri
Mr Speaker, I just admire the convergence of mind and the non-partisan narrative by the two speakers, Hon Ernest Anim and my Colleague and a Brother, Hon Agalga. I just admire how they are working together.
Mr Speaker, not to rehash the issues raised, first of all my heart goes out there to my Colleague and condolence to the family and the entire constituency. I think this matter must not be left to die naturally. So later in the day when the Business Statement is read, we must find a way to get the Interior Minister who doubles as a National Security Minister to be here. We could maybe come under Order 60 and meet him at closed sitting because it is a sensitive national security matter. Then we can engage him and get some update.
Mr Speaker, the Nsawam Medium Prison is in my constituency and I have been there countless times. Mr Speaker, you need to be there to tell the story; it is pathetic. Truly, structural expansion has started. The last time the Hon Minister was in the House, he had said that that particular building the Member spoke to has gotten to 70 per cent. So, we will appeal to the Hon Minister to ensure completion of the work which will reduce the congestion. The Hon Minister also related to custodian sentence and what the Ministry is doing. But I guess we need to go beyond the normal narrative and the diplomacy that we often engage in and get practical and real.
And so, I support and commend the maker of the Statement. I commend the Committee but their work should not be restricted to the medium prisons alone and Hon Agalga would agree with me? Human rights abuses are all over the country; in the markets and some other places. We should go beyond the prisons and find other places where our work can relate and bring these matters up to the front burner and then we can show leadership as public servants and find a way which is common to address it.
So having said that, I thank you. And the Member said that as a human rights and new committee in the Standing Order, we should be giving attention to their works. Yes, Hon, that is why the Statement was admitted. We had agreed we were not going to take Statement yet the Speaker compromised and took the Statement. So, his works I guess is appreciated and the Speaker gives it all the attention. Having said that, I thank you for the opportunity and I am grateful for the opportunity given.
Hon Richard Kuuire
Nandom
Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity. I am insisting on speaking because I am a former Director General of Prisons in Ghana. And I have 10 years’ experience working with prison reform in the United Nations system. I want to associate myself with the Statement made by my Colleague and to urge this House to seriously consider the issues raised.
Mr Speaker, it is not just only about food, GH₵1.80. What will that buy? And that promotes diseases, hunger among others. Mr Speaker, it would have been good if we agree that we all go and sleep at the prison for just one night to have a feel of it. I want to say that in the past, I have had the opportunity of hosting Ministers in this country in the prisons. While some of them were there, they were sending for me to come and they would tell me how we can improve upon the prison system.
Mr Speaker, it is not a child's play to be in prison for just one day. The overcrowding is just terrible. We used to say they sleep like how you position sardines. Nsawam is not the worst prison. I would not mention other prisons, but they are very bad. I associate myself with what Hon Agalga said. Look, we must have a special session to discuss the prisons. What did Mandela say? That if you want to measure the democracy in human rights in a country, then go to the prisons. He was there for 27 years. And when he came, his attitude to prisons and prisoners changed.
Mr Speaker, I want to say the overcrowding is because of the way we are managing our criminal justice system. Because anybody who goes in there has no other means to seek redress. Because most of them cannot afford the legal fees. And particularly with drivers, if you are alleged to have committed an offence, and you are sent to court, and you plead not guilty, you are going in for two weeks remand and the consequences of that is not easy. Because you will lose your job.
Mr Speaker, the alternatives to imprisonment are not being used in this country. It is not just community service. Some of the issues are even diversions. How to keep juveniles away from adult prisoners. If we are not careful, we are turning the prisons into schools or universities for learning how to commit crimes because first time offenders are associated with hardened criminals and what is the consequence? They learn criminality inside the prison, Mr Speaker. I think in the near future, we will have an opportunity to really discuss our prison system.
Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
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