Koforidua Prisoners Plead For Presidential Pardon

Prisoners at the Koforidua prisons have pleaded with the President to consider offering persons who have served for many years a presidential pardon. They also appealed to government to ensure that institutions responsible for justices do their work well. The prisoners made the appeal through the Eastern Regional Minister, Helen Adjoa Ntoso and her Deputy, Mavis Amma Frimpong, when they visited the prisons as part of their working tour to familiarize themselves with the security services in the region. According to the prisoners, there were over 170 of them who had been on remand for over 10 years without trial which was in clear breach of the country�s constitution. They indicated that if the justice system was allowed to function properly, overcrowding in the prisons would be reduced, adding that about 83 persons were kept in one small room. The prisons also appealed to government to increase their daily feeding to improve their meal. �Mama Ntoso, you are the fourth Minister to visit us and we are happy that as a caring woman you would relay our plea to the President,� said Agyemang, spokesperson for the prisoners. The Prison officers on their part also made an appeal for the provision of vehicles to facilitate their activities, especially in conveying remand prisoners to the courts. They also complained of lack of accommodation for officers, which had compelled them to live at separately at different locations making it difficult for them to respond to distress calls in time. Ms Ntoso assured the prisoners of her support and urged them to pray to God for a change heart and attitude ahead of their freedom.