Nana Amoku Kwansa X
Chief Superintendent of Prisons, Nana Amoku Kwansa X was born on 24th October, 1960 at Saltpond to Rev. Joshua Ayesu and Madam Jidicaia Yorke all of blessed memory. He started his primary and middle school education at Wassa-Akropong in the Western Region. After his second cycle Education at Mosama School Complex, Mozano, he was admitted into the then National Academy of Music (now University of Education Winneba) to study music.
BRIEF HISTORY
Documented history of Ekuasi Camp Prison is very scanty. It is believed that what is now Ekuasi Camp Prison changed hands from being an observational post for the early merchants to a leprosarium serving the inhabitants of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan before being taken over as a remand home for female offenders until the establishment of the Sekondi Female Prison.
Deputy Superintendent of Prisons, A.K. Kusugbor is on record to have been the first officer-in-charge of the prison in 18th October, 1976, but the actual date of the establishment of the Prison is unknown.
After more than four decades of its existence, in spite of the numerous challenges that has confronted the station, it has not renege in its mandate of providing safe custody and welfare to prisoners. Additionally, it has provided rehabilitation and reformed thousands of short sentenced prisoners over the years.
LOCATION AND APPROXIMATE LAND SIZE:
Nestled on a hill, Ekuasi Camp Prison is boarded to the west by St. John’s School, the South by the Sekondi -Takoradi Coastal road and to the East by Aggrey Memorial School. The camp prison occupies a total land size of 13.08 acres, much of which is rocky and unsuitable for any agricultural activities.
INMATES POPULATION AND CATEGORIES:
The Prison holds basically short sentenced prisoners; it does not receive convicts directly from the courts. Inmates transferred to the prison must serve at least a fifth of their sentence elsewhere particularly Sekondi Central Prison and Tarkwa Local Prison leaving a residual of their sentences to be served at Ekuasi Camp Prison. As an open Camp, the atmosphere is a bit relaxed as compared to a walled prison and this is suitable for their reintegration into wider society upon discharge.
The total inmate population as at 1st April, 2015 stood at 151 inmates.
NON-FORMAL EDUCATION
Following negotiations with the Metropolitan Coordinator, the Non -Formal Education Program (NFEP) was re-introduced after a break from 2011, at the moment there are fifteen inmates being taken through basic literacy and numeracy.
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES
Administration continues to give credence to religious activities at the station. Administration also solicits assistance from benevolent religious organization, groups and individuals aside those officially granted permit to undertake bible studies as well as worship with the officers and inmates.
HEALTH CARE
cases of ailments are usually reported to the Infirmary with complicated ones being referred to government health institutions within the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolis. Usual complaints include Malaria, Chicken pox, diarrhea, severe headaches, boils, asthma, cough, scabies, anemia etc. Just recently, the Regional Commander DDP Josephine Fredua Agyemang through her initiative got the National Health Insurance Scheme to register all inmates of this outfit for free. This initiative will potentially reduce inmate health bill on the Administration.
ACHIEVEMENTS
- The most remarkable achievement in recent times is the registration of inmates of this outfit under the National Health Insurance Scheme, which was an initiative of the Western Regional Commander, DDP Josephine Fredua Agyemang. This will effectively reduce the health bill on the service and the nation.
- The Administration secured the installation of a mechanized bole-hole facility from a philanthropist. This single project brought to an end the perennial water shortages of the station.
- Administration completed an exercise to capture the data of all inmates, thereby creating a computerized data base of all inmates in custody.
- The Non- Formal Education Program which stalled sometime back, but was being revived with a piloted program in 2013 became fully operational in 2014. The program has given training to thirty-three inmates in soap making with other training modules in the offing
CHALLENGES FACING THE STATION
- Lack of funds to run administration as releases from Central Government is not forth coming
- The station is in dire need of service vehicles.
- The station’s main office needs urgent renovation and office equipment to enhance effective Administrative work.
- The station’s Kitchen needs a complete renovation.
- Inadequate accommodation for officers at the station.
