Ghana prisons turn inmates into hardcore criminals – Ex-convict

Ghana prisons turn inmates into hardcore criminals

Another prison inmate has implicated prison officers in

aiding convicts grow from bad to worst.

Agya Kumi [pseudo name], who was on remand at the

Ho Central Prison, said in a media interview that the

officers facilitate the illegal trade of the inmates.

Smuggling

“The prison officers serve as middlemen and smuggle in mobile phones,

marijuana (wee) and other illegal drugs in the cells,” he added.

What he thought were just stories, he said, were happening live

while incarcerated for owing his business partners.

“I saw prison officers trading with inmates and I was shocked.

They sell drugs to the inmates to make money,” he added.

The convict is convinced Ghana’s prisons, which are to serve as

correctional and rehabilitation centers, rather make

the inmates hardcore criminals.

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He cited how an inmate convinced him to go into fake currency

production business should he gain his freedom to buttress his point.

Homosexuality

Agya Kumi said homosexuality among the inmates is real.

Though they try their best to shroud their acts in secrecy,

they are mostly caught.

He said other young inmate’s relatively new in the yard are

cajoled into the act as a form of security.

“Such young inmates enjoy the full benefits and

protection from their partners.

“But if caught in the gay act he said the culprits are beaten to pulp

until they are rescued by the prison officers.

I witnessed this countless times,” he added.

Healthcare

He said inmates are fortunate to be given healthcare only when their

situation is critical. A headache or common cold is given no attention.

“I saw inmates collapsing because the officers failed to take them

to the hospital for medical attention,” he stressed.

Some of the inmates, who manage to smuggle drugs to the cell,

help others who are in need to avert any death.

With just 21 days in the Ho Central Prison, the ex-convict said he

would not have survived if he was jailed.

“The judge was compassionate and released me after the police

failed to provide evidence against me,

I don’t think I could have survived,” he said.