The Minister-Designate for the Interior, Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, has voiced deep concerns about the troubling state of Ghana’s prisons, particularly the meager funds allocated for feeding inmates.During his vetting by the Parliamentary Appointments Committee on Friday, January 24, Muntaka committed to making prison reforms a central focus if approved for the position.The Asawase legislator criticized the GH¢1.

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80 daily feeding allowance per prisoner, describing it as grossly inadequate and an affront to basic human rights.He questioned how such a negligible amount could sustain proper nutrition for inmates, remarking that household pets often receive better care.Muntaka also stressed the severe health challenges arising from poor nutrition, especially in overcrowded and unhygienic prisons where inmates are highly vulnerable to diseases.

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He reassured the Committee that increasing the feeding allowance and improving overall prison conditions would be top priorities under his leadership.“I was shocked when I heard that the rationing for feeding a prisoner in Ghana is GH¢1.

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80 for the whole day and I doubt with the greatest of respect that even the cats and dogs in our houses, how much food do we give them that we will put our own compatriots because of one mistake or the other, in trying to corect them, we feed them with GH¢1.80 and expect them to be healthy.?”“It is a very serious thing and I assure my colleagues that I will pay attention to it and address it.

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”Muntaka also shed light on the extensive challenges confronting Ghana’s prison system, particularly the issue of extreme overcrowding.A significant number of the nation’s correctional facilities are stretched far beyond their designed limits, fostering conditions that accelerate the spread of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, scabies, and other ailments.

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The Ghana Prisons Service has consistently urged the government to intervene and resolve these pressing issues, but progress has been noticeably delayed.

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