Former president John Mahama has pledged support to improve prison conditions and uphold the rights of the vulnerable after meeting Civil Society organizations.
According to Mr. Mahama, the deplorable condition in prisons is a dent on the country’s democratic credentials.
“The conditions in the cells are terrible. Ventilation is very poor. The prison cells are overcrowded. I asked for the building of a remand block to move all the remand prisoners there to help decongest the cells. This is something we support,” he said.
The Former President made the statement after the Executive Director of Crime Check Foundation (CCF), Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, bemoaned the delay in the passage of the non-Custodial Sentencing when Amnesty International and other Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) including Crime Check Foundation (CCF paid a courtesy call on him.
Speaking on issues pertaining to prison conditions, Mr. Kwarteng argued that the passage of the Non-custodial sentencing bill into law will help prevent the ‘sweeping’ of petty offenders into prison contributing to congestion.
This Mr. Kwarteng indicated has led to deplorable conditions in the prisons.
“We do not understand why the non-Custodial Sentencing bill is still in Parliament when we obviously know its importance when it is passed into law. The delay in its passage has created a situation where our prisons have become congested because if petty offenders are quickly swept into prison, no matter the decongestion approach the prison will continue to be full. So we want to use your good office to drum home the need for that bill to be passed into law,” he appealed.
However, the Country Director for Amnesty International, Genevieve Partintin advocated for the protection of the rights of women especially those who are molested for allegedly being witches. Madam Partintin pleaded with the Former President to add his voice to push for a bill that will put perpetrators behind bars.
“We want to ask you to add your voice to help move a Witchcraft bill that will ensure that people who maltreat women accused of witchcraft are jailed for at least a year,” she said.
Other CSOs present at the meeting include the POS Foundation and the Legal Resources Centre (LRC).
