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Central Regional Command

 

 

OVERVIEW OF THE REGION (CENTRAL REGION)

The Central Region is one of the sixteen/16 administrative regions of Ghana, strategically located along the country’s southern coast. The region spans an area of approximately 9,826 square kilometres. Cape Coast serves as the regional capital and is widely recognized for its historical significance, having once been the capital of former Gold Coast. The city and the region at large are known for their rich cultural heritage, historical sites such as the Elmina Castle, Cape Coast Castle, etc. which were used during the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade era and educational institutions, making it both a historical and educational hub in the country. The people of Cape Coast celebrate the Oguaa Fetu Afahye festival and its celebrated on the first Saturday of September every year to mark the beginning of a new year for the people of Oguaa.

 

ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE

The central region is administered by the Central Regional Coordinating Council (CRCC), led by the Regional Minister Hon. Ekow Panyin Okyere Eduamoah. The region is divided into twenty-two/22 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs). These include;

  • 1 Metropolitan Assembly (Cape Coast)
  • 7 Municipal Assemblies
  • 14 District Assemblies

Each MMDAs is managed by a Chief Executive and an assembly responsible for local governance, development planning and coordinating of central government policies at the local level. The CRCC ensures policy coherence and supports the effective operation of decentralized government agencies including the Ghana Prisons Service.

 

KEY OPERATIONAL DETAILS IN THE REGION

The Ghana Prison Service in the Central Region operates under the coordination of the Central Regional Coordinating Council (CRCC) and the Regional Security Council (REGSEC). These bodies facilitate inter-agency collaboration especially in areas related to security, justice delivery and rehabilitation programs in the central region.  Key operational activities in the region include;

  • Security Coordination

Through the Regional Security Council, the Ghana Prison Service collaborate with other security agencies to maintain safety and order across all the correctional establishments in the central region.  

  • Community Engagement

The Ghana Prisons Service work closely with traditional authorities, civil society and local government structures to support reintegration efforts and enhancing community safety as and when the need arises.

 

STATIONS UNDER THE COMMAND

  • Maximum Security Prison
  • Ankaful Annex Prison
  • Ankaful Main Camp Prison
  • Communicable Disease Prison (CDP)
  • Winneba Local Prison
  • Awutu Camp Prison
  • Osamkrom Camp Prison

 

BRIEF HISTORY OF STATIONS

MAXIMUM SECURITY PRISON

Maximum Security Prison as the name implies, is enclosed by massive walled fortress of concrete and steel walls, as high as 30 feet, with double perimeter fences topped with barbed wire or razor ribbon.  It houses the most aggressive, high risk, high profile and long sentenced offenders. The land Size occupied by the Maximum Security Prison is 1,800 feet by 1,800 feet. The facility is located at Ankaful Prisons Complex, Cape-Coast in Central Region of Ghana.  The Ankaful Prison Complex comprises three other Prisons namely, Communicable Disease Prison, Main Camp Prison and Ankaful Annex Prison and they are all located on the main Ankaful– Elmina road. Maximum Security Prison is the Regional Headquarters/Command Seat. The Prison was commissioned by the late President John Evans Atta Mills on 8th November, 2011 after the first phase of the Project was completed. The first phase is composed of the Administration block, Cells block, Kitchen and part of the residential facilities for officers. Work on the second phase is ongoing. It also includes a School block, Workshops, a Church and Mosque for religious activities and residential accommodation for officers.

Authorized Capacity: the facility was built to house an inmate capacity/population of two thousand/2,000 inmates but currently has a lock up of one thousand, three hundred and sixty-two/1362 inmates.

 

WINNEBA LOCAL PRISON

Winneba Local Prison is located at the South-Eastern Part of Winneba. It is among the first Prisons built in the Gold Coast Colony and it is located few meters away from the Gulf of Guinea.  Established since 12th December, 1881, Winneba Local Prison has a total land space of about 430 x 600 feet and until recently shared the same building with Winneba Magistrate Court. The Winneba Local Prison like many others in the country was not originally built as a prison. It has its history similar to the forts and castles in the Gold Coast Colony which were later converted to prison. Oral history has it that, Winneba Local Prison was originally a warehouse built by white merchants in the then Gold Coast. It was alleged that a misunderstanding arose between the white merchants and the Simpa town folks, based on a suspicion that a native of the town was kidnapped and kept in the warehouse. The irate youth and some elders of the town consequently invaded the premises, ransacked the building and set it ablaze. The building was abandoned for several years until it was later taken-over by the then Gold Coast Prisons authorities who later re-configured it and used it as a prison. The prison houses both remand and convict prisoners. Formerly sharing part of the building with the Winneba District Magistrate Court; this part of the building was eventually handed over to the prison and is currently being used as Church Auditorium, Main Office, and Offices for Senior Officers.  A good portion of land at the back of the facility is being walled for expansion to be carried out in the near future where the facility could be upgraded to a Regional Command.

Authorized Capacity: Per the history of the facility, it was not built for the purpose of housing inmates, however, it has gradually metamorphosed to become a solid prison structure with authorized capacity of about 45but now admitting about 150 to 200 inmates in Ten/10 cells of varied sizes.

 

ANKAFUL MAIN CAMP PRISON

Ankaful Main Camp Prison was established in 1946/1947. The land for the prison was acquired during the Second World War for an aerodrome but the project fell through as a result of abrupt end of the Second World War. The prison was established to provide labour for brick kiln production and labour for the establishment and running of fuel wood reserve. About 100 selected prisoners were initially transferred to the prison under the supervision of tradesmen warders. Ankaful Main Camp Prison served as the Central Regional Command Prison until 2012 when Maximum Security Prison was commissioned as the Central Regional Command. The station currently receives short sentenced Prisoners of 5 years and below on transfer from other station and engages in Palm Plantation farming, Maize and Vegetable farming as agricultural activities.

Authorized Capacity: The station has the capacity to take about 800 inmates, but currently has 146 inmates in custody.

 

OSAMKROM CAMP PRISON

Osamkrom Camp Prison was an Agricultural establishment for Mr. R.S.K. Kwakye, a former Inspector – General of Police. Following the freezing of the assets of its owner after the 1979 coup d’état it became useful to the Prison Service as a farm camp for Winneba Local Prison until 1989 when about twenty-nine/29 inmates were permanently kept on the farm under the supervision of about five/5 junior officers. In 1990, Prison Headquarters started renovating some existing structures with the purpose of training inmates in practical agriculture with particular focus on the cultivation of Palm-Fruits, Maize, Beans etc. and the rearing of Pigs, Sheep etc. it was also built to decongest other prison facilities. Further development including a prison cell with the capacity of 30 inmates was completed in 1993.  The station was accorded an autonomous status in the same year (1993) with the posting of a Senior Officer to head the establishment.

Authorized Capacity: The authorized capacity of the facility is hundred/100 inmates. However, the number of inmates sometimes rises between two hundred/200 – two fifty/250 inmates.

 

COMMUNICABLE DISEASE PRISON (CDP)

The Communicable Disease Prison was established as a subsidiary prison alongside the Ankaful Main Camp Prison in 1948. The main purpose of its establishment was to take care of prisoners suffering from communicable diseases. In 1983, Communicable Disease Prison became autonomous from Ankaful Main Camp Prison. The facility is located at Ankaful a suburb of Cape Coast. The establishment is constructed on a land size of 96 x 84m with a small parcel of land for growing vegetables and other crops to supplement inmate’s diet. Additionally, the station serves as a sickbay for male prisoners suffering from Communicable diseases across the country.

Authorized Capacity: The facility has a maximum holding capacity of Ninety/90 inmates.

 

AWUTU CAMP PRISON

This Prison was established in 1982 as one of the Camp Prisons to decongest the Central Prisons. The main purpose of the facility is to train inmates in Agricultural activities to supplement inmates’ diet and also to generate funds for the prison service. 200 acres of land was released to Ghana Prison Service to be used for the Camp Prison in 1999 by the government. The station is engaged in the production of grains, vegetables, ruminants, glasscutter etc.  Inmates are also given on job training at the Various Unit of Agriculture, Tailoring and Kente weaving as part of Prisoners Rehabilitation programs at the station.

Authorized Capacity: The facility has a carrying capacity of 250 inmates.

 

ANKAFUL ANNEX PRISON

Following the ceding of all Forts and Castles to the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board under the National Liberation Council Decree (N.L.C.D) 387 of 1969 and Executive Instrument (E.I) 29 of 1973, it became necessary to migrate the Anomabo Local Prison which was located at the Anomabo Fort and Cape Coast Castle. The Prisons Service Administration decided to carve a new prison out of the Ankaful Main Camp Prison. To this effect, a portion of the Main Camp Prison was subsequently walled and refurbished and this gave birth to ANKAFUL PRISON ANNEX. The facility occupies a land size of 174ft by 300ft. The station also engages in farming activities and has a land size of 281/2 acres for agricultural activities. The Ankaful Prison Annex became operational on 15th February, 2000 when the first batch of officers composed of Nineteen/19 junior officers and two/2 senior officers were transferred from Anomabo to Ankaful with a population of over Two Hundred inmates. The last batch of inmates were evacuated to Ankaful Prison Annex by 15th April, 2000.

Authorized Capacity: Currently, the station houses over 550 inmates in Three/3 blocks but its original capacity is 400 inmates.

 

MAJOR REHABILITATION PROGRAMMES

Prison establishments in the region undertake the understated reformative and rehabilitative programs to assist the inmates for a better reintegration;

  • Carpentry
  • Masonry
  • Tailoring
  • Formal and Non Formal Education
  • Alata Soap production
  • Fresh Yoghurt Production
  • Kente Weaving
  • Shoe making
  • Block molding/Block laying
  • Electricals & Electronics
  • Blacksmithing
  • Bakery (bread & pastry making)
  • Training
  • Barbering

 

AREAS OF COLLABORATION

  • Facilities in the region has collaborated with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) for registration, renewal and replacement of the inmates’ health insurance card.
  • Maximum Security Prison is collaborating with the judicial service to establish an appeal court at the facility
  • In collaboration with the Anglican Church of Ghana, the Maximum Security Prison has received trade training equipment and tools such as computers and accessories, sewing and knitting machines, block moulding machine, kente weaving machine, etc. for inmates training.
  • Festive Kids International, a Non-Governmental Organisation is constructing a sachet water factory to train inmates in sachet water production at Maximum Security Prison.
  • The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture has assisted facilities in the region to engage in fish farming.
  • Crime Check Foundation is constantly assisting inmates with default warrants by paying their fines and getting them released from prison; a gesture that helps to decongest our facilities.
  • Philanthropist and Faith based organisations assist establishments in the region with medical supplies and other essential amenities needed for the day to day running of the prison facilities.

Prison Establishment