Features
Decongestion in our prisons – a national emergency
The need to decongest our prisons has been on the radar of government and civil society organisations for quite a while. Some action has been taken but there is still much to be done with the advent of this terrible COVID-19 pandemic.
It has become much more urgent in view of the pandemic and the mode of transmission or infection, taking into account the current situation in our prisons. The prisons are extremely overcrowded.
According to the Ghana Business News of October 3, 2018, the overcrowding of the prisons was about 52 per cent. A TV news item I watched, shocked me to the core. Inmates were packed like sardines in a can and I wondered how on earth anyone can have a sound sleep under such circumstances.
The noncustodial sentencing being advocated by the general public, civil society organisations and the Prisons Council, must be given the required attention to prevent an outbreak of the pandemic in our prisons.
One of the protocols for prevention of the spread of the COVID-19 is social or physical distancing. The social distancing is not feasible under the current situation, where it is alleged that inmates are sometimes compelled to sleep in shifts and where they are able to sleep at the same time, they are packed like sardines.
The psychological impact on the inmates is a serious matter that must worry the authorities. These inmates are supposed to be reformed so they can fit into society on their release. If these inmates become angry at the society in general due to the unfair treatment being given them, would society be safe on their release?
Another aspect of this worrying situation is the possibility or should I say the likelihood of infection from the prison officers. These officers interact with fellow officers who interact with the general public on a daily basis and then they go on to interact with the prisoners. If any of the officers on duty gets infected, the chances of infecting the inmates would be quite high.
Given the impracticability of the social distancing in our prisons currently, we can only hope and pray for a miracle just like President Conte of Italy did when he was overwhelmed by the pandemic.
One peculiar aspect of this virus and a few others is that, someone could have the virus and still would not show any of the symptoms that would easily mark him out as an infected person. Given this scenario, an asymptomatic prison officer could spread the virus among the prisoners and a catastrophe will be on our hands.
In trying to implement noncustodial sentencing in our country, the culture of the people needs to be factored into the process; otherwise it would not have the desired effect. It would have to be a sentence that has the potential to bring shame to the family of the offender.
When that happens, it serves as a deterrent which is the main objective of any sentencing of a court of law. It must have an element that constitutes an affront or humiliation to the community in which the offender lives. For example instead of sending a young man who has stolen say a mobile phone to prison, he can be given a noncustodial sentence to sweep the main street of the community in which he lives for a specified period.
A prison dress could be given to him or her to wear when sweeping the street each morning to differentiate him or her from the normal sanitation workers whose duty is to ensure a clean environment. An information van can be dispatched to run commentary on the misbehaviour that has landed the offender in that trouble so everybody will know that the offender is doing the work for free as punishment for a criminal activity.
The stigma it could bring to the offender’s family will be enough deterrent to other families who would definitely admonish their family members to take a cue from the shame the offender has brought on his or her family.
There are reports of meagre sums of money used in feeding the inmates and therefore the lack of sufficient and quality food. The country has a lot of needs and this accounts for the lack of adequate resources needed to feed the prisoners. Noncustodial sentencing will reduce the amount released for taking care of the prisoners and resources will be made available to address other pressing social needs like shelter for abused mothers and children.
A hungry man, it is said, is an angry man and the negative social impact hunger can cause when inmates are released into society is huge, hence the need for noncustodial sentencing.
There are other diseases, like Meningitis, that is deadly and spreads through body contact. Recently, a variant of it has hit the Upper West Region, killing a lot of people. It is believed that the virus thrives in hot environments a description in which the current overcrowded prisons fits perfectly.
We are told by health personnel that the current virus responsible for these deaths is a new variant which no vaccine has been developed to combat. It is just like the COVID-19 and, therefore, it is being managed and the earlier the detection, the better the chances for survival of infected people.
One of the serious issues that can arise out of discontent in our prisons resulting from overcrowding is rioting. The state of preparedness to deal with riots in our prisons is yet to be determined.
It is not something that should be entertained since it can result in jail break which can have serious consequences on the lives of both inmates and that of the prison officers as well as their immediate families and even members of the surrounding communities. Anything therefore that can result in riot must be dealt with before it becomes an issue that impacts negatively on society.
Just imagine the mental torture of being restricted like a caged animal and then the further torture the inmates go through each night and you can have an idea of the rage being built up over time in the inmates towards society in general.
Recently, when the restriction was imposed due to the COVID-19, most people became restless even though we were in our own homes. Most people felt trapped and were counting the minutes and the hours till the restrictions were lifted, even though they could eat what they liked and do whatever they wanted; and this was for only a few weeks.
Consider an inmate, who is in a much more restricted environment, cannot eat whatever he likes, sleep in an overcrowded room and you would begin to appreciate the mental torture inmates go through.
In order to achieve the reformation objective of sentencing an offender, taking into account the lack of adequate resources, noncustodial sentencing is one sure way to go. Noncustodial sentencing would reduce government expenditure on prison inmates, free resources for other social intervention projects, achieve the reformation agenda in a cost effective manner, help in preventing the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19, help in promoting our human rights agenda as a nation and motivate our prison officers so they can effectively manage offenders that will be given custodial sentences.
Laud Kissi-Mensah, a social commentator
Features
The Prophet part 2
“I can see in the spirit, that some of you have been trading for years without seeing any meaningful profits, some young women have been disappointed by men who have either abandoned them and left for foreign lands and forgotten about them, or stopped sending money for the upkeep of their wives and children.
I can see young men who are desperate for visas to travel abroad but have either been duped by visa contractors or refused at the embassies. From tomorrow, I assure you, the visas will be given.
Young women, I have news for you. You will receive telephone calls, and you will hear very good news. Handsome young men with money in their pockets will come and marry you, and take care of you. Traders, you will get big business and big profits from today. From today, you will see that I am a true prophet who has come to deliver you.”
Shouts of “Amen,” “thank you Prophet” and “I receive it” greeted his sermon. After a final prayer, he asked the congregation to come early the following day, and bring others, because there would be many testimonies.
There would also be “special anointing” for great miracles. Although he did not ask for an offering, most of the people came and dropped notes, and coins at the “pulpit.” When they left, Antobam counted the money.
“GH¢900!” he almost shouted, ‘and I did not even ask for an offering. This is fantabulous!’ Going to the Nana Kofi Broni shrine, he told himself, was a very wise move.
He started making plans……He had to choose a few assistants who would carry out his orders……. He had to hire some chairs as soon as possible……He had to find a suitable piece of land and, if possible, build his own church……. He had to start looking for a nice car, befitting the status of a popular preacher …… And, most importantly, he had to select two, three or four nice, young women to take care of his needs, apart from the servants who would cook, wash, iron and do other errands for him.
Abruptly, he told himself, this hungry, scruffy Kukurantumi boy was being transformed into a man of power and money, with some of the most beautiful women in town at his beck and call. Wow!
After a shower and supper, he shut the door to the very small room that served as his bedroom and dropped on the bed. Almost immediately, the shrill sounds, like whispers, began.
This time he did not express any fears. He realised to his great surprise that even though the sounds were not in the form of any language, he could understand them.
Tomorrow there will be testimonies……they will give money……. some rich people are being prepared …….they will bring big money ………. we will give them what they want, and they will bring money ……. big money …….big, big money……the women will also come, a number of them. ‘
He went to sleep smiling and whispering to himself, ‘big, big money, and women!’
He woke up at 5 and took a shower. After a breakfast of tea and several slices of bread he set off. On reaching the venue he saw to his great surprise that the place was full.
Very full, and quite a number of people rushed to embrace him and give him the wonderful news. The excited people narrated the testimonies about big sales, telephone calls from relatives directing them to go to Western Union, and impotent husbands who had miraculously rediscovered their magic powers.
He was truly glad that Nana Kofi Broni’s magic had already started working, but most of his attention was focused on the ladies in the congregation. He noticed to his great delight that some of them were really nice. I must start making my selection, he told himself. Today!
“Give a mighty clap offering to the great, mighty one for his wonders among us!” he started, and the response was very big.
“I said yesterday that you were going to see signs and wonders, and I am very happy that my word has been fulfilled. Even though we have taken allowed one hour for testimonies, many more of you would like to testify.
Tomorrow, I promise you that there will be ample time. I will only preach a short sermon. The rest of the time will be taken up by consultations, after which I will give directions on what to do to ensure that you defeat your enemies, secure your marriage and, most importantly, continue increasing your profits in your business.” His sermon was interspersed with ecstatic shouts of “Amen,” “it is true,” “God bless you” and “I receive it.”
His final word was emphatic; “Big miracles are coming your way. Keep attending church, and don’t forget to give thanks to God.”
By Ekow de Heer
Features
Full Gospel Businessmen Fellowship launches project to transform young lives
The Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship International (FGBMFI) Ghana has launched the Senior High Schools and Colleges Project (SCP) aimed at empowering and transforming the lives of young people.
Speaking at the launch, Professor Mike Ocquaye, the former Speaker of Parliament, emphasised the need to catch them young and train them as the current times were challenging.
He lauded the project, calling on all to support it, saying “In fact, it’s very important to catch them young, train them, lead them, guide them, and mentor them because the times are indeed rough,” Prof. Ocquaye said.
Mr Ekow Egyir Dadson, the Director, Schools and Colleges Directorate, stated that since its inception in 2018, the SCP had reached over 70 educational institutions with countless testimonies of transformation.
“We began with the Presbyterian Boys Secondary School (PRESEC) Legon, and now in 2024, we have visited 74 schools and impacted the lives of over 100,000 students, some of whom were personally mentored and now have graduated from the universities.”
He explained that the SCP, a vision by FGBMFI Ghana, was a bold outreach programme designed to call young people to Christ, train and equip them for the future.
He cited testimony-sharing, mentorship, career guidance, entrepreneurship and counseling as some of the unique approaches to be used in reaching out to the targeted students.
Mr Emmanuel Baba Mahama, the National President of the FGBMFI Ghana, launched the SCP Manual, which would help the FGBMFI Zonal Family Chapters across Ghana in order to adopt schools and colleges within their catchment areas.
The Schools and Colleges project is making a great impact; we have had first-hand testimonies from school heads, teachers, and students (mentees) about the SCP. This project has come to stay, Mr Baba Mahama assured.
He, therefore, called for more volunteers and partners to help the SCP shape the next generation of leaders and citizens.
Findings by the FGBMFI revealed that Ghana’s senior high schools, colleges, and university students face growing challenges like addictions, indiscipline, poor academic performance, pornography, homosexuality, broken homes, and a lack of godly guidance.
That had been a concern to many parents and society, “but the FGBMFI believes there is hope to rescue and restore these young students,” Mr Mahama said. –GNA
