A group of 63 inmates at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison who recently graduated from the University of Cape Coast may not be able to undertake their national service — simply because they don’t have Ghana Cards, a mandatory requirement for all service personnel.
One of the graduates, who has spent 13 years in custody, raised the concern during a visit by Parliament’s Human Rights Committee to the prison. He appealed for urgent intervention, expressing frustration that despite earning their degrees, they are unable to move forward due to bureaucratic setbacks.
The Eastern Regional Commander, DDP Patrick Thomas Seidu, confirmed that the National Identification Authority (NIA) currently only permits children to register, leaving inmates out — and without any timeline for inclusion.
But the Ghana Card issue is just one of many challenges facing the prison. Originally built for 717 inmates, Nsawam Prison now holds over 3,500, with 430 people squeezed into dorms meant for 20.
Inmates receive just GH¢1.80 daily for food — a figure that hasn’t changed since 2011 — and the prison is deep in debt, including GH¢200,000 owed for medication and GH¢506,203 to the NHIS.
Committee Chair Ernest Yaw Anim stressed the need for urgent reforms and called out the stark contrast between prison feeding grants and the School Feeding Programme. He promised to raise the concerns in Parliament and push for action.
MP for Madina and human rights lawyer Francis-Xavier Sosu also urged the President to consider granting amnesty to long-serving inmates — some of whom have been behind bars since 1979 — especially in light of Ghana’s abolition of the death penalty. He hinted at plans for a formal petition to review such cases and advocate for clemency.
The visit shone a spotlight on a broken system where education and reform are happening behind bars — but the path forward remains blocked.
