General News of Thursday, 8 April 2004

Source: --

Shake-Up At Nsawam Prison

The purported conspiracy at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons has necessitated major shake-ups in the administration of the prison.

Indeed, it resulted in the transfers of convicted former ministers of state, Kwame Peprah, Ibrahim Adam and George Sipa, formerly in charge of Legal Department of the Ministry of Finance from the Nsawam Prison to other prisons in the country.

There was also a massive reshuffle at the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons. First there was the appointment of a new commander and new senior personnel at the prison. A new unit, inner perimeter security unit under the commander of a senior officer had also been created to guard the gate of the prison and the inner perimeter of the prison. Inmates, according to investigations, are strictly confined to their block and visits to the administration and other blocks of the prison are strictly forbidden.

Investigations confirmed by contents of a fax message sent from the office of the deputy minister of the Interior to the Minister of Interior, Hon. Hackman Owusu Agyemang. It was headlined: Nsawam Medium Security Prisons. The fax message confirmed investigations that thirty (30) additional subordinate staff were sent to the Nsawam Medium Security Prison to beef up security.

Razor wire has been raised all round the prison, while intercom system has been installed, to warrant communication everywhere. Lightening systems, we gathered has also been improved. New vehicle has also been provided to patrol the outside of the prison so that the Rapid Response Unit ? on 24 hours standby ? will use to forestall any eventuality. All inmates going to the hospital, this paper gathered are conveyed under guard by a vehicle with Nsawam Hospital doctors visiting the prisons regularly.

Mr. Agbelengor, the alleged facilitator of the meetings between Charles Quansah and the convicted former NDC ministers, is on interdiction ? but it will soon be lifted to enable him appear before the trial panel for his par tin the Charles Quansah coaching saga.