The Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, has disclosed that serious conversations are underway regarding the possible relocation of the Kumasi Central Prisons, a move aimed at addressing long-standing congestion issues and improving living conditions for both inmates and officers. "Thankfully, before today, the Interior minister was here.
We held an extensive discussion on some of the challenges faced by inmates and prison officers here at the Kumasi Central Prisons and also as a region," Dr Amoakohene shared, speaking to journalists after a recent inspection.
He further revealed that decongesting the prison was central to the discussions: "We discussed, among others, plans to be able to decongest the prison, which is key in making sure that you provide a very conducive environment for your work." As part of the efforts to achieve that goal, the regional minister hinted at a more transformative solution - the relocation of the entire facility. "Additional things that have come up are a possible relocation of the central prisons so that we can have adequate land space and be able to, as it were, free the city and be able to, as it were, decongest the central prisons." The talks, he said, are still at the consultation stage but are receiving attention at the highest levels of leadership. "These discussions are ongoing, and President Mahama definitely would have a say on that, and we'll be sure what we want to do so far as the central prisons are concerned."
