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The Interior Ministry is to set up a committee to investigate the recent attempted jail break at the Kumasi Central Prisons, Mr Mark Woyongo, the Minister has announced.

This was when he visited the prisons to access the level of damage caused during the riots last week.

One inmate was shot and killed while several security officers and inmates were injured during the riot, which was said to have been caused by an attempt by firemen and prison wardens to put off an alleged fire outbreak reported in one of the cells in the convicts block.

Mr Woyongo was accompanied by the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr Samuel Sarpong, Comptroller of Prisons (COP) Mrs Matilda Baffour Awuah and Ashanti Regional Police Commander, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCOP) Nathan Kofi Boakye.

Mr Woyongo said he believed the attempted jail break and rioting, was masterminded by external persons.
He stated that, his Ministry will liaise with the Ministry of Agriculture to introduce commercial farming into the prisons service.

This would not only serve as a source of income for the maintenance of the prisons but as a food security measure for the inmates.

He announced the intensification of the commercialization of the labour services of prisoners to serve as sources of income for the Prisons Service while at the same serving as skills and training for inmates after their sentence.

Mr Woyongo lauded the Ashanti Regional Security Committee for the quick response and timely intervention to save the situation.