No-smoking measures introduced at Wa Central Prison

_{By DDP Alhaji Ousmane Tasembedo (Esq.)}

According to The Oxford Handbook of Criminology by Maguire et al. (2012), imprisonment is defined as the legal punishment of confining a person in a prison or jail after being found guilty of a crime. It remains one of the most widely used forms of criminal punishment across legal systems worldwide.

The concept of imprisonment is founded on several key principles, including punishment, deterrence, rehabilitation, justice, and accountability.

Over the years, however, the philosophy of imprisonment has evolved significantly. Mark (2019) argues that the modern prison system has gradually shifted from mere punishment to correction and reformation, based on the belief that offenders can reform and become productive members of society when provided with the necessary support and opportunities.

In Ghana, Article 205 of the 1992 Constitution provides for the establishment of the Ghana Prisons Service as a state institution mandated to ensure the safe custody, welfare, rehabilitation, and reformation of prisoners. The Service plays a critical role in maintaining public safety while preparing inmates for successful reintegration into society after serving their sentences through reformation.

Over the years, the Ghana Prisons Service has made commendable progress in fulfilling its mandate, particularly in the area of rehabilitation and reformation. This aligns with Welch’s (2011) assertion that the essence of reformation is to transform inmates into useful and responsible individuals after discharge.

Despite these achievements, the Ghana Prisons Service continues to face several challenges, with prison overcrowding being one of the most significant. From a criminological perspective, overcrowding occurs when prison facilities accommodate more inmates than their intended capacity.

This situation often creates serious security and disciplinary concerns, making effective supervision, searches, and control more difficult for prison officers. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2013) also observed that overcrowding creates favorable conditions for the circulation of drugs and other contraband within prison facilities.

Consequently, strong leadership and effective institutional policies are required to combat drug abuse and maintain discipline in prisons.
Although the Wa Central Prison may not be considered severely overcrowded, the facility currently houses inmates beyond its normal capacity. This situation requires proactive leadership to prevent the prison from becoming a breeding ground for criminal behavior and substance abuse.

It is in this regard that the leadership of DDP Alhaji Ousmane Tasembedo (Esq.), Upper West Regional Commander and Officer In-Charge of Wa Central Prison, deserves recognition. Through strategic interventions and strict policy implementation, he successfully curtailed the use and sale of drugs, including marijuana and cigarette smoking, within the Wa Central Prison— a situation that had previously become alarming.

Policies and Measures Introduced;

1. Temporary Ban on Inmates Cooking: Inmates were temporarily prohibited from cooking within the prison yard. This policy reduced inmates’ access to fire, which smokers and drug users relied on to light cigarettes and marijuana. It also encouraged non-smoking inmates to assist authorities by identifying offenders within the yard. For example, an inmate serving a four-year sentence, Naeem Musah, was charged after being caught with fire in his cell intended for lighting cigarettes. Upon interrogation, he admitted obtaining the fire from inmates who were cooking.
2. Temporary Suspension of Visits for Suspected Drug Addicts: Suspected drug users were temporarily denied visitation privileges for one week. This measure placed psychological pressure on offenders and contributed to behavioral change among several inmates.
3. Regulated Bathing and Toilet: Scheduled specific times for bathing and toilet use, except in cases of emergency such as illness. Intelligence gathered indicated that smoking, sniffing substances, and alcohol consumption were commonly carried out in bathroom areas. Restricting access therefore minimized such activities.
4. Deployment of Officers to Supervise Bathroom Areas: Dedicated officers were assigned to supervise inmates whenever they used bathroom facilities. This improved monitoring and reduced opportunities for substance abuse.
5. Restriction on Escorting Officers Re-entering the Yard after outside labour activities: Escorting officers returning from outside labor duties were prohibited from re-entering the prison yard after inmates had been searched. Investigations revealed that some officers exploited this loophole to smuggle prohibited substances into the prison under the guise of purchasing food or supplies for inmates. Officers were therefore instructed to purchase all necessary items before arriving at the prison gate to allow for a single comprehensive search.
6. Planned Prosecution of Drug Offenders: Management planned to prosecute at least one inmate for drug-related offenses within the prison yard as a deterrent to others. However, due to the significant reduction in drug activities, no inmate was eventually arrested for such offenses.
7. Reshuffling of Gate Officers: A reshuffle was conducted at the prison gate, and only disciplined and uncompromising officers were assigned to gate duties. This strengthened security checks and ensured thorough searches of both inmates and officers.
8. Routine and Surprise Searches: Frequent surprise searches were conducted at the prison gate, within cells, and around the prison yard. The operations team was strengthened to carry out these exercises weekly, with reports submitted directly to the Regional Commander.
9. Use of Informants and Spies for Intelligence Gathering: Another effective strategy was the use of informants and intelligence sources within the inmate population. These individuals were motivated through incentives such as double food rations and certain privileges, which greatly enhanced intelligence gathering and contributed to the success of the anti-drug campaign.

In Summary:
Maguire et al (2012) maintains that without effective policies and firm institutional control, prisons can easily become safe havens for drug abuse and criminal networking, especially considering that many inmates may already have substance abuse histories before incarceration.

The experience at Wa Central Prison demonstrates that strong leadership, discipline, intelligence gathering, and strategic reforms can significantly reduce drug-related activities and promote order within correctional facilities.

References

1. Maguire, M., Morgan, R., & Reiner, R. (Eds.). (2012). The Oxford handbook of criminology (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.
2. Welch, M. (2011). Prisons and punishment in America (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.
3. United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. (2013). Handbook on strategies to reduce overcrowding in prisons. United Nations.