Let’s reform our prisons now

Last Wednesday night there was a fire outbreak at the Kumasi Central Prison and, in a bid to prevent any loss of lives, prison officers evacuated the inmates from the cells to the inner yard of the facility.

In the ensuing melee, some of the prisoners attempted escaping, attacking prison officials and vandalising property in the process.

One attempted snatching a rifle from an official and was shot dead as a result.

Regrettable as the event is, it brings up the bigger issue of the state of prisons in our country.

Prisons are avenues to correct deviant actions by persons who choose to exhibit those behaviours overtly and thus inflict pain on society.

Every human being, no matter how low or high, has a bad side, but what prevents that bad side from showing up in a manner that warrants public condemnation is the will to suppress it.

However, there are some people who lack the level of self-control and probably the kind of training needed