The Chairman of Ghana Prisons Service, Rev. Stephen Wengam has hinted that plans are far advanced to relocate the highly congested Kumasi Central Prisons to a different location.

The project dubbed ‘Afiase’ will help to decongest the Kumasi prison which has been a major source of concern to authorities.

The Kumasi central prison which has a capacity of 450, currently houses about 1,700 inmates.

Currently, the total inmates population all over the country is about 15,000, meanwhile the total capacity of the various prisons is 9, 000 an excess of 6,000 prisoners.

The inmates include about 22 condemned prisoners and 473 remand prisoners, with the rest being convicted prisoners.

Ultimate news’ Isaac Justice Bediako reports that the Sixth Prisons Council paid courtesy call on for the Asantehene Otumfuo II requesting 500-acre land in Kumasi for building of a new prison facility.

Rev.Wengam expressed appreciation to the Asantehene for granting the request of the council, noting that it will go a long way in reforming inmates as expected of the Ghana Prison Service.

‘We came here to introduce ourselves to you, to thank you for supporting the Manhyia prisons. History has it that the first prison in Ghana begun at the Manhyia palace. We came to brief you on project ‘Afiase’ and to request for 500 acres of land in Kumasi to relocate the Kumasi central prison from its current place.

We want you to launch the project here in the Southern sector for us, Otumfuo has promised to give us the land and has also agreed to launch it early next year,’ he said.

Otumfuo Osei Tutu II promised to bring in investors to help in relocating the congested prison without any cost to the prisons council.

‘We need to consider the commercial value at the located place; we need to build before we send the prisoners to the new place. We started the Manhyia prison long ago, we had always wished to maintain it until the prison council makes any request of relocating it.

Previously those who were perpetrating crimes were sent there by the Palace police ( Ahenfie police), to serve as a deterrent to others, we will do everything within our means to help you to relocate the prison,’ he assured.