General News of Saturday, 6 July 2013

Source: joyonline

Prison authorities assure of Ken Kunranchie’s safety but…

Prison authorities have assured families and well wishers of the jailed Editor of the Daily Searchlight newspaper that the criminal contempt convict is safe and sound.

However, Chief Public Relations Officer for the Prisons Service, DSP Courage Atsem, would not disclose publicly where Kenneth Kuranchie has been sent to, in service of his ten day prison sentence by the Supreme Court.

The wife of Ken Kuranchie has been distressed and dying to see her husband.

According to her ‘confidant’, Prof Mike Ocquaye who spoke to Joy FM and MultiTV news analysis programme, Newsfile, Mrs Lucy Adjeiwaa Kuranchie has not seen her husband ever since he was incarcerated.

She was reported to have gone to the Nsawam Prison to give her husband food, medicine and other personal effect, only to be told he had been transferred to the Ho Prison.

She then sent an emissary to the Ho Prison to deliver same, but the emissary was told Ken Kuranchie had been transferred again, but this time they will not say where.

Prof Ocquaye later learnt that Kuranchie had been transferred to the Kete Krachie Prison.

It is his third prison in five days served from the ten day sentence.

Ocquaye said the continued shuffling of the prisoner is "abnormal" and against his human rights, adding there is “no justification for this kind of movement.”

He called on the Minister for Interior as well as the Prison authorities to take action and ensure the stability of the prisoner.

But in a reaction, Courage Atsem said the prison authorities are following due process and regulation.

He explained that transfer of prisoners is guided by two principles- the security of the facility and the security of the prisoner.

He would not say which of the two reasons occasioned the shuffling of Ken Kuranchie.

When asked to confirm if Ken Kuranchie is now at the Kete Krachie Prison, DSP Atsem would not confirm or deny, except to say that the prisoner has a right to serve his sentence in peace without public announcement as to where he has been confined.

He assured that Ken Kuranchie is safe and is being given the best of treatment.