Bernard Antwi Boasiako warns of alleged same-sex activities at Nsawam Prison

Bernard Antwi Boasiako, the Ashanti Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party commonly known as Chairman Wontumi, has raised concerns regarding alleged same-sex sexual activities among inmates at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison. Speaking through his spokesperson, Dr. Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, Boasiako warned that the situation poses a threat to order within the facility and could lead to potential violence if prison authorities do not intervene immediately.

During an interview on Class 91.3 FM, Dr. Boakye-Danquah detailed reports of a specific code system used by inmates, referred to as "pay, pay, pay," which allegedly signals sexual encounters. The spokesperson emphasized that these activities undermine the disciplinary framework of the correctional system. He noted that the reported behavior has created unease among both the inmate population and those monitoring prison conditions, prompting the call for swift action from the Ghana Prisons Service.

To address these concerns, Boasiako is advocating for a comprehensive review of inmate classification protocols. The proposal suggests a stricter separation of hardened criminals from less severe offenders to prevent exploitation and maintain a more secure environment. Better classification is seen as a vital step in ensuring that the rehabilitation goals of the prison are not compromised by internal instability or the influence of more aggressive inmates.

While the allegations remain unverified and the Ghana Prisons Service has not yet issued a formal response, the discussion also touched on the potential impact of Ghana's proposed anti-LGBTQI+ legislation. It was suggested that such laws could have further implications for the management of sexual offenses within the penal system. The concerns raised by Boasiako's team highlight the broader challenges of congestion and inmate welfare currently facing the country's largest prison.