Some strange flies have invaded the Forifori Prison Camp in the Kwahu Afram Plains South District in the Eastern Region, compelling Prison officers to adopt unorthodox means of dress code.

The flies are extremely small and hard to see but are believed to be the source of strange diseases among inmates and Prison officers at the Camp, TV3’s Peter Quao Adattor reports.

Officers at the Camp are said to be using repellents and or adopt unusual dress codes to avoid being bitten by the flies considered to be dangerous. Peter reports that these flies are more widespread at the Prison Camp than the Forifori township and adjourning communities.

“They bite every part of the body that is exposed, leading to different types of strange diseases,” Peter said, noting that officers now wear hand gloves and ninja-like headgear to protect themselves while the inmates are left to their fate in their shorts and short-sleeve shirts.

“Those flies are worrying us a lot and when they bite you before you see, the place will just swell, and you’ll see some blood coming out. In fact, it’s worrying all of us. It is causing a whole lot of problems to us,” Commanding Officer, ADP J.B Norteye-Akutey told TV3.

He is thus appealing to non-governmental organisations and philanthropists to come to their aid and fumigate the Camp and provide them with the necessary medicine and drugs to counteract the effects of the bites they get.

ADP Norteye-Akutey said authorities had to transfer a female officer from the Camp due to the effects of the flies’ bite on her skin, saying “it spoilt her body and as a result, she had to be transferred from this station”. He added: “As at now, we only run three shifts instead of four shit [system]. It is affecting us, it is affecting job here, our farming activities and everything”.

Prison officers posted to the Camp are rejecting such postings, something authorities at the camp say has caused under-staffing.

The Forifori Prison Camp was established in 2003 and begun operations in 2005 with 50 inmates who engage in agricultural activities.

Inmates brought to the Camp are not directly from courts but transfers from other prison establishments like Koforidua Local and Nsawam Medium Security Prisons.

These are inmates usually with short sentenced.