BY DANIEL BAMPOE
Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, has reportedly raised concerns about the conditions inside the prisons, including inadequate healthcare, overcrowding and the welfare of inmates, while calling for reforms that would allow prisoners to maintain intimate relationships with their spouses under regulated conditions.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, by his spokesperson, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, Wontumi outlined a series of concerns following visits to him since his confinement on July 20, 2026.
The statement presents his incarceration as an opportunity to reflect on prison conditions, inmate welfare and the need for institutional reforms.
Although the headline raises questions about a possible poisoning threat, the statement provided does not contain a specific allegation that Wontumi was targeted for poisoning, nor does it describe an attempted poisoning incident at Nsawam Prison. Its central focus is the alleged inadequacy of prison healthcare, the mixing of different categories of inmates, overcrowding and the need for reforms.
Wontumi’s reflections have nevertheless brought renewed attention to the welfare and safety of prisoners, particularly the challenges faced by inmates who require medical attention while in custody.
Calls for a dedicated prison hospital
One of the most significant concerns raised in the statement is the alleged absence of a dedicated, well-equipped prison hospital capable of handling serious medical emergencies across the country’s correctional facilities.
According to Wontumi’s spokesperson, the former NPP regional chairman believes that some prisons operate without adequate ambulance services and standby generators, leaving seriously ill inmates vulnerable when emergencies arise.
The statement also alleges that prisoners suffering from infectious and potentially life-threatening conditions, including tuberculosis, are managed under difficult circumstances. It warns that inmates with tuberculosis may sleep alongside apparently healthy prisoners, raising concerns about the prevention and control of infectious diseases in confined spaces.
Wontumi is therefore calling for the construction of an ultra-modern prison hospital to serve correctional facilities nationwide. As an interim measure, he proposes stronger emergency referral arrangements with the 37 Military Hospital and the Police Hospital.
However, the statement does not identify a particular medical incident involving Wontumi himself or provide evidence that he has suffered an attempt on his life through poisoning.
Prison safety and the mixing of inmates
Beyond healthcare, Wontumi has raised concerns about the classification of prisoners, arguing that inmates facing relatively minor offences may be housed alongside persons convicted of serious crimes, including armed robbery.
The statement further claims that individuals standing trial for offences such as treason and terrorism may be held alongside ordinary inmates, a situation he considers a potential security risk.
He argues that the correctional system requires a more effective classification framework that considers the nature of the alleged offence, security risks, medical needs and the circumstances of individual prisoners.
Such concerns, if established, raise questions about whether existing prison arrangements adequately protect inmates and support rehabilitation. The statement, however, does not provide facility-specific records or independent evidence to establish the extent of the alleged practice.
Wontumi calls for conjugal visits
In one of the most striking aspects of his prison reflections, Wontumi has called for regulated conjugal visits that would allow married inmates to spend private time with their spouses.
He argues that imprisonment should not automatically sever family relationships and that spouses and children should not be made to bear the full consequences of a relative’s incarceration.
According to the statement, dedicated and supervised arrangements for private family visits could help preserve marriages, reduce tension among inmates and support their eventual reintegration into society.
The proposal is presented as part of a broader appeal for a correctional system that prioritises rehabilitation alongside lawful punishment.
Wontumi also raises concerns about the lack of counselling and behavioural support for young inmates, particularly those involved in defilement cases. He calls for appropriate classification, professional counselling and rehabilitation programmes rather than relying solely on confinement.
Prison officers’ welfare and infrastructure
The former NPP regional chairman has also called on the government to improve the salaries, accommodation and working conditions of prison officers.
The statement argues that prison officers play a critical role in maintaining security, supervising inmates and supporting rehabilitation, yet their working conditions require urgent attention.
Wontumi further contends that Ghana’s prison infrastructure has not experienced sufficient structural transformation since 1962, apart from limited developments such as water production.
He is urging both the government and the private sector to invest in modern correctional facilities, workshops and factories that would equip inmates with employable skills and improve productivity during incarceration.
He also points to what he describes as inadequate agricultural equipment within the Ghana Prisons Service.
According to the statement, the service has access to extensive land and skilled labour but is constrained by a shortage of machinery, with only one tractor reportedly available for farming and waste-management activities.
He is appealing to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to support prison farms with the equipment and resources needed to improve food production and vocational training.
Parliament urged to lead prison reform
Wontumi has called on Parliament to spearhead a bipartisan response to the concerns raised in his statement.
He wants the Speaker of Parliament to lead discussions on prison reform, framing the matter as one involving human rights, public safety and national development.
He has also urged the Majority and Minority caucuses to work together towards a new Prison Reform Act and secure the necessary budgetary allocations for a dedicated prison hospital, ambulances, standby generators and agricultural equipment.
Additionally, he wants the Parliamentary Select Committees on Defence and Interior, Health, and Food and Agriculture to undertake working visits to prisons across the country to assess conditions directly.
The statement also appeals to the Attorney-General, the Chief Justice and the government to make prison welfare a priority.
Wontumi maintains that the work of the justice system should not end with conviction and sentencing, arguing that correctional institutions must be equipped to prepare inmates for responsible lives after release.
His spokesperson says that, since July 20, 2026, Wontumi has had the opportunity to interact with prison officers and inmates and observe the operational challenges confronting the Ghana Prisons Service.
