Tamale Central Prisons Overcrowded

The overcrowded nature of the Tamale Central Prisons is said to be making life unbearable for the inmates there. With a total population of about 158, the Tamale Central Prisons can only boast of three long ancient buildings with cracked walls and leaking roofs. Citi news Abdul Karim Naatogmah reported that �Cerebrospinal meningitis and other communicable diseases are common there because of the dilapidated nature of the prison.� This came to light when the Tamale Baptist Youth Association donated assorted items worth GHC1,000 to the Tamale prison. Lead pastor of the Tamale Baptist Youth Association, Bruce Bagnadam said �as Christians we are all given the commission to share the word of God to all people irrespective of their race wherever they find themselves. That is what motivated us to come and share Christ with the inmates.� He, however, called for immediate expansion of the prison. �This is supposed to be a reformation center where they are supposed to be going through training so some materials can be provided to them so that it can equip them to have well informed training so that when they come out here they do not become a nuisance to society but they will be empowered with some skills to come out and start life,� he stated. Most prisons in the country face similar problems. Some suspected criminals are allegedly kept in prisons for four to five years without trial hence overcrowding the prison. Meanwhile, the Minister of the Interior, Mr Mark Woyongo recently said the government is putting measures in place to decongest prisons in the country.