Ranches now home for Prison Officers

Life for some prison officers seems to be in bad taste compared to their colleague security personnel in the Ghana Police Service, Ghana Armed Forces, Ghana Immigration Service and Ghana National Fire Service in terms of accommodation.

These prison officers have no other option but to manage what has been provided by the state or move on as they serve their country in the area of security.         

Checks made by The Mirror showed that while police officers, the Military, among other members of the security agencies enjoy rent allowance, prison officers do not.

Because they are not paid rent allowance, they bear the cost of rented accommodation all by themselves or live in the old structures provided by their employers.

When The Mirror visited the Amanfrom Prisons Camp in the Ashanti Region, there were scenes of poor accommodation outlets being occupied by some of the officers.

The Amanfrom Prisons Camp is noted for its concentration on farming and further checks showed that most of the apartments were previously used for animal farming which had been converted into accommodation for the officers.

What gives the story a defining shape is that the structures are so weak that when it rains, the prison officers and their families cannot sleep as the place gets flooded.

A visit to the camp revealed that some prisons officers have been occupying these structures for the past seven years and only nature can tell their stories.

Utility bills

Apart from the lack of rent allowance, another hurdle for the officers is the payment of utility bills, particularly, water and electricity.

However, their colleague security personnel in the Police and Military for example do not pay utility bills.

Reaction

When contacted for an interview, the Ashanti Regional Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Ghana Prisons Services, Assistant Superintendent of Prisons (ASP) Mr Richard M. Bukari, could not comment on the matter.

He said issues on rent allowance and utility bills were policies of the Ghana Prisons Service.