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The President, John Dramani Mahama, undertook a visit to the Nsawam medium Security Prisons Friday, saying it was an eye-opener for him and his government to take immediate steps to improve conditions in the country’s prisons.

In line with that, he announced a remission programme for the prisoners.

“I have asked the Director General of Prisons to present to my office proposals for permission of sentence based on good behaviour and serious health conditions,” he said to cheers from inmates who came out of their cells to listen to him at the Prisons Park.

Mr Mahama also announced immediate plans by the government to raise money to build two new blocks at Nsawam to ease the congestion.

Historic visit

The visit was historic because it was the first ever undertaken by a sitting Ghanaian president to any prison in the country, as both prisons officials and inmates showed appreciation with a grand welcome.

As he entered the main cell block, many hands jerked through the bars with the inmates cheering him.

The Nsawam Medium Security Prisons is a correctional institution, with many facilities including a school, a clinic, a skills training centre, an infirmary, and a diagnostic and counselling centre.

Last Friday, the President launched the ‘Afiase’ project by the Ghana Prisons Service to raise funds to improve conditions in the country’s prisons.