–BY Grace Zigah
Nsawam Medium Security Prison in the Eastern Region is facing a critical human rights crisis, as the facility, originally designed to house 717 inmates, now holds a staggering 3,548 people—nearly five times its intended capacity.
The revelation came to light during a recent monitoring visit by Parliament’s Committee on Human Rights, which was formed under the leadership of Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin.
The visit was led by the Committee Chairman and Member of Parliament for Kumawu, Ernest Anim, who reiterated that the Speaker of Parliament remains deeply committed to the protection of human rights.
This commitment, he noted, informed the creation of the Human Rights Committee—the first of its kind in Ghana’s democratic history.
Dire Conditions at Nsawam
According to the Officer-in-Charge of the Nsawam facility, Deputy Director of Prisons (DDP) Patrick Thomas Seidu, the overcrowding situation has reached an alarming state, severely impacting the health, safety, and general welfare of inmates and staff alike.
Perhaps more disturbing is the current feeding rate for inmates: just GHS 1.80 per day, an amount that has not been revised since 2011.
This allocation is expected to cover three meals a day per inmate, a situation that raises serious questions about the adequacy of nutrition and overall prison conditions.
DDP Seidu also expressed concern about the absence of essential security equipment like scanners, which compromises the prison’s ability to detect and prevent contraband from entering the facility.
Lawmakers Push for Reform
Ranking Member of the Committee, James Agalga, emphasized the importance of the committee’s oversight role in safeguarding the rights of all citizens, including those behind bars.
He called for broader reforms to Ghana’s criminal justice system, including the abolition of the death penalty, which he argued is inconsistent with modern human rights standards and the sanctity of life.
The Parliamentary delegation was supported by Director of Prisons in charge of Operations, Hagbe Francis Selorm, who joined the team during the inspection and engaged with officers on the ground.
A Growing Concern for Human Rights
The visit forms part of Parliament’s broader efforts to assess and improve the state of Ghana’s correctional facilities, which have long struggled with issues ranging from overcrowding and underfunding to inadequate healthcare and poor rehabilitation programs.
With prison populations soaring and resources stretched thin, lawmakers are increasingly under pressure to push for systemic reforms.
The Committee’s findings at Nsawam are expected to feed into broader discussions on prison decongestion, sentencing reform, and improved funding for the Ghana Prisons Service.
