Eight inmates at the Akuse Prisons have been discharged unconditionally under the Justice for All programme.
The eight are Moses Tetteh, Daniel Boateng, Debi Lawer, Teye Addo Lawer, Tettey Wayo Matthew, Felix Kononor, Theo Quaw and Elvis Aryetey.
A total of 34 applications were considered in the prisons decongestion mission with 14 of them being granted bail while 16 applications were dismissed by the two high courts which were set up within the prison premises. Additionally, three cases were struck out, bringing the total number of persons who were heard 41.
Officials of the Justice For All programme revived calls for a non-custodial sentencing policy for Ghana’s Criminal Justice System. The call was made by Court of Appeal Judge, Justice Clemence Honyenuga, judge responsible for the Justice For All (JFA) programme after a Prisons decongestion mission to the Akuse Prisons in the Eastern region.
He said the young and energetic inmates he encountered at the Akuse Prisons suggests to him that the policy of non-custodial sentencing will greatly help to safe the younger generation from enduring prison life for minor offences.
PRISON HISTORY
The Akuse Prisons was built by British colonial masters several years ago, however in the year 1911, it was converted into a prison and named Akuse Prisons. The 106 years old prison was designed to house 90 inmates, but, as at today, the prison has 154 convicted prisoners and 56 remand prisoners, bring the total number to 210.
CONGESTION CONCERNS
Assistant Director of Prisons responsible for the Akuse prisons, Fiifi Brew Acquah acknowledged that the prison is indeed congested. He explained that the removal of some forts and castles that were serving as prisons is partly to blame for the congestion being experienced in most prisons in the country. He added that the JFA programme should be intensified to consolidate the decongestion efforts of the Judiciary.
JFA BENEFICIARIES
As part of today’s sitting, court registrars were present in the prison to ensure that all inmates who were discharged or granted bail get their bonds executed immediately so they can exist the prison. Subsequently all eight person who were discharged exited the prisons before the JFA team left the Akuse Prisons.
