Congestion in cells, lack of laundry soap, a sickbay, workshop for training and water are on the list of needs of inmates at the Gambaga local prison in the North East region. Officers are appealing to government and philanthropists for assistance.
Gambaga Local Prison is a colonial inheritance, constructed with mud in 1847 and used as a slave post. It held new slaves ahead of being transported to the Cape Coast Castle which served as a shipping hub to the world’s slave markets. It was a dual-purpose prison as a police operating point and as a prison until it was later converted into a prison facility. Cell four of the five cell facility once hosted the first President of the Republic, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Gambaga Local prison designed for 22 inmates now has 35 inmates and sometimes takes up to 50 prisoners. Today the category C prison receives secondary degree and misdemeanor offenders. It’s challenges include Cracked walls and congestion is also of concern for the authorities.
Currently the Gambaga Local Prison is the only prison in the whole of the North East Region. Considering its status as a new region, Authorities are hoping for a bigger facility for the area.
By Peggy Ama Donkor
