Nsawam Prisons Owes GH₵506K to NHIS, GH₵200K to Drug Suppliers - Management

Accra, Ghana - 20 May, 2025 - The management of Nsawam Medium Security Prisons in Ghana's Eastern Region is facing a severe financial crisis due to mounting debts owed to drug suppliers and the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).

The facility currently owes GH₵506,000 in NHIS claims and GH₵200,000 to drug suppliers for medication provided to inmates according to Deputy Director of Prisons Patrick Thomas Seidu.

He disclosed that some officers have had to use their personal funds to address inmates' medical needs due to the financial strain. 

Seidu made the revelation during a visit by the Human Rights Committee of Parliament to the facility on Monday, May 19.

“As of the last audit, we are owing in excess of GH₵200,000 for drugs that were supplied to inmates without payment. We also have problems with the Auditor-General; they are also writing that we should let it go and write to the Ministry of Finance and Parliament to let them know, because who pays for that?” he said.

The prisons' management has appealed to the government for financial support to clear the debts. Ranking Member of the Human Rights Committee, James Agalga, has described the situation as regrettable and called on the government to act swiftly in clearing the medical debts.

“We do not have any legal aid in Nsawam. If in Accra there are few, how many can you ask to come here and handle certain cases? So that alone is even a challenge. They are here, but they cannot appeal. They want to, but they can’t because the avenues are not there. We have become their relatives and family, so any challenge they face is directed to us,” he stated.

Beyond the financial crisis, the prisons' management has also highlighted a critical legal challenge facing inmates: the lack of access to legal aid for those wishing to appeal their sentences. Agalga has stressed the importance of preserving the rights and dignity of inmates, including access to healthcare.

“The idea of bringing people here is to reform them so that when they return, they can be better people in society. But if they are taken here for incarceration, and we are not proactive in extending health services to them, then it is unfortunate. So it is an area we need to pay particular attention to,” Agalga stated.

The issue of poor nutrition has also been raised, with Agalga disclosing that the Finance Minister is expected to review the current GH₵1.80 daily feeding grant per inmate during the upcoming mid-year budget review.

 The review aims to address the challenges faced by the prisons in providing adequate nutrition to inmates.

Source: Lead News Online