Severe rain storm on Sunday afternoon, swept through the Sekondi Prisons barracks, in the Western Region, causing damage to seven blocks, and displacing 25 prison personnel and households of about 50 people.
The two-hour storm, which began at about 3.30pm, ripped and destroyed the old asbestos roofs, causing colossal damage to electrical wires, appliances and personal belongings of the affected personnel.
The Regional Prisons Command told The Ghanaian Times that the affected personnel were on duty at the Central, Female and the Ekuasi Prisons, and could not salvage their properties.
They have however been relocated to vacant rooms and two transit quarters at the Sekondi Prisons barracks.
Meanwhile, reports indicated that the Regional Prisons Command had informed National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) about the disaster.
“The officers and their families were on Sunday displaced and exposed to the skies. The roofing was destroyed, including their properties and even certificates. Due to the lightning, the electrical system was also destroyed. It was a colossal damage. Indeed, the barracks is old and needs renovation.” the Public Relations Officer at the Sekondi Prisons, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP)Enoch Owusu Sekyere, confirmed.
He said that the prisons barracks, a colonial legacy, had not seen any major renovation since it was constructed, adding that in 2015, the Architectural and Engineering Services Limited (AESL) conducted an assessment on the facility and recommended total renovations.
Since then, he said, the prisons authorities had not been able to do it until the storm blew the barracks apart.
“It’s a very serious state of affair at the Sekondi barracks. The officers were on duty and could not salvage their properties,” ASP Sekyere added.
He told The Ghanaian Times that the Command had sent a report to Accra, hoping that funds would be made available for the barracks to be given a new look.
The PRO noted that prisons officers were a critical part in the country’s criminal justice system, and argued that the security personnel should be well accomodated for them to play their roles effectively.
ASP Sekyere appealed to the government, individuals, corporate institutions and NADMO to assist the prisons, to get decent accomodation to house the affected personnel.
Already, he indicated that the Regional Prisons Commander, Deputy Director of Prison (DDP) Nelson Basubinin Duut, had visited the affected personnel and appealed to them for calm and restraint.
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