Former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, is advocating improved salaries, accommodation and conditions of service for prison officers following his first 100 days in custody. Wontumi was remanded into custody on July 20, 2026. His spokesperson, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, said the experience had given the politician an opportunity to reflect on the challenges facing the Ghana Prisons Service and propose measures to improve the system.
Speaking on The Big Bulletin with Clankson Acheampong on Tuesday, October 27, Dr Boakye-Danquah said Wontumi believed prison officers deserved better support in view of the demanding responsibilities associated with their work. “The prison officers are the first people to open the prison doors and then the last people to close the prison doors before they get back to their homes,” he said. He explained that Wontumi was calling on the government to review officers’ remuneration, accommodation and overall conditions of service to ensure their welfare receives adequate attention.
According to the spokesperson, the former NPP regional chairman had also expressed concern about the quality of healthcare available to inmates, particularly those suffering from serious medical conditions. He said Wontumi was proposing the establishment of a dedicated prison hospital, the provision of ambulance services and improvements to existing medical facilities to ensure inmates receive timely treatment during emergencies.
The politician has also highlighted the problem of overcrowding in prisons, stressing the need for a more effective classification system that separates inmates according to the nature of their offences and their respective security risks. In addition to healthcare and officers’ welfare, Wontumi is urging the Majority and Minority caucuses in Parliament to collaborate on reforms aimed at upgrading prison infrastructure and strengthening rehabilitation programmes.
Dr Boakye-Danquah said Wontumi believed the prison system should go beyond punishment and equip inmates with the skills and support needed to reintegrate into society after their release. “He says very clearly that he can come to prison, anybody can come to prison, any politician can come to prison tomorrow, the next day and the years ahead,” he said.
The proposals follow a statement issued by Dr Boakye-Danquah on October 27, outlining Wontumi’s recommendations for a dedicated prison hospital, improved welfare for prison officers, a more effective inmate classification system and increased investment in prison infrastructure.
