The A/R Minister declares that in order to relieve urban congestion, Kumasi Central Prisons will be moved.

According to Dr. Frank Amoakohene, the Ashanti Regional Minister, talks to move the Kumasi Central Prisons are presently under progress.
The action is a component of larger initiatives to relieve congestion in the city and the overcrowded prison.

This comes after Muntaka Mubarak, the Interior Minister, visited the prison recently and revealed the severity of the traffic and associated health issues.

The Kumasi Central Prisons, which were constructed to house 500 prisoners, currently house more than 1,700 convicts.

Although the issue hasn’t been formally presented to the president yet, Dr. Amoakohene acknowledged that preliminary discussions have already started.

Fortunately, the Interior Minister was present prior to today. We had a lengthy conversation on some of the difficulties that prisoners and guards at Kumasi Central Prisons and throughout the region experience,” he stated.

“Among other things, we talked about plans to decongest the prison, which is essential to ensuring that you create a very favourable environment for your work,” he continued.

Dr. Amoakohene went on to say that one of the ideas being considered right now is moving the prison.

Other issues that have surfaced include the potential transfer of the central jails to provide us with sufficient land space and enable us to, in a sense, liberate the city and decongest the centre.

President Mahama would undoubtedly have a say in these continuing talks, he said, adding that “we’ll be sure what we want to do so far as the central prisons are concerned.”

If authorised, the proposed move will relieve strain on the existing facilities and support broader initiatives to lessen Kumasi’s traffic.