The Perfector of Sentiments (POS) Foundation has made a passionate appeal to the president to decongest the country’s prisons to help prevent skyrocketed figures should covid-19 set into our prisons.
Through this appeal, the POS Foundation is calling on government to fast track the passage of the Community Service Bill and activate legislation for Probation and Parole.
They are thus calling on the president to activate article 72 to grant amnesty to minor offenders and nonviolent drug users.
According to the facilitators for the Justice For All Programme, a review of the amnesty criteria to cover convicted non-violent drug users and petty offenders will significantly decongest Ghana’s prisons.
The Executive Director – POS Foundation, Jonathan Osei Owusu made the appeal at the Tamale Central Prisons during a presentation of items to help the fight against the spread of Covid-19 among prisoners and officers.
The high numbers of inmates in our prisons at a time poses serious congestion challenges for both inmates and Prison Service officers, especially in this era of covid-19.
POS Foundation with GIZ and Open Society foundation, facilitators for the Justice For All Programme, presented items including vitamin C, automated hand washing machines, liquid soap and some food items worth GH₵35,000, and a cheque amount of GH₵1,500 to the Tamale Central Prisons, to fight the spread of the virus in various prisons across the region.
Meanwhile the Acting Public Relations Officer of the Tamale Central Prisons, ASP Isaac Nfum Amoako who extended a word of appreciation to the POS foundation noted that the gesture will go a long way to help extend support to the other centers in various districts under their jurisdiction.
He further noted that though an officer confirmed positive for the Covid 19, a mass testing that was conducted on both inmates and officers came out negative.
The foundation has thus congratulated all prison officers across the length and breadth of the country for their swift response to safety protocols to ensure the safety of themselves and also inmates.
Source:Fiilafmonline/ShawanaYussif
