An Assistant Director of Prisons, Mr Emmanuel Adzator, has complained about the situation where Obuasi local prisoners are being denied opportunities to learn trades because of lack of space for establishment of workshops.
He has therefore appealed to the government for a new prison to be built on land they had secured at Obuasi Pomposo.
Mr Adzator told members of the Justice and Security sub-Committee of the Municipal Assembly that "for lack of space we cannot organize training workshops for the inmates."
Built in 1909, it is strategically placed at the entrance of AngloGold Ashanti (Obuasi Mine) to scare criminals from interfering with the activities of the mine.
It was initially meant to hold 100 inmates but at times about three times this number is kept there.
Mr Adzator said it is faced with many challenges and mentioned among them the absence of toilet facility for the female officers, inadequate drugs for the infirmary and non-availability of properly constructed shed that could be used by the inmates for church services.
Chairman of the sub-Committee, Mr Prince Agyei-Badu, said the unfavourable conditions at the prisons gave cause for concern.
He gave the assurance that a comprehensive report on the facility would be submitted to the general assembly for action.
He praised the prisons officers for doing their best under such conditions.
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