GBA Calls For Closure Of James Fort Prison

By William Yaw Owusu

Thursday, 18 October 2007
THE Ghana Bar Association (GBA), has called for the immediate closure of the James Fort Prison in Accra and relocation of all its inmates.

They said the prison complex is dilapidated and poses a danger to both inmates and Prison Officers.-

Nii Osah Mills, National President of the GBA, made the call in Accra yesterday at a press conference to announce resolutions passed at their 2007-2008 annual general conference held in Koforidua from October 1 to October 3.

He said that the GBA was ready to put pressure on the government and also support it in the relocation exercise.

He said "the James Fort Prison is an old structure located very close to the sea. There is constant sea erosion of the building and we as a nation cannot fold our arms until there is a major catastrophe".

The GBA suggested the speedy completion of the Ankaful Prison Complex in the Central Region as one of the interventions for the relocation exercise.

Mr Mills said, "whilst we recognise the on-going ‘Justice for All’ programme as a first step towards the decongestion of the prisons, the GBA urges the government to vigorously aim at improving conditions of the inmates of our prisons and officers of Prisons Service."

He called on the government to as a matter of urgency and on humanitarian grounds, increase the daily feeding allowance for the upkeep of prisons and provide medical care and facilities for both inmates and Prison Officers.

Furthermore, the GBA called on the Judicial Service to review the current professional or career magistrates’ training programme and consider enticing lawyers to the bench as Magistrates instead of the Professional Magistrates.

It stressed the need to improve conditions of service for the Police Service to enable the personnel to perform efficiently.

The association condemned the spate of instant justice and mob actions and urged the public to refrain from such acts and allow the law to take its own course.

The GBA also commented on the spate of road accidents and appealed to the National Road Safety Commission and the Ghana Highway Authority to intensify public education on road safety and also ensure that road construction meets international standards.

It urged the National Media Commission to work expeditiously on all complaints before it and maintain up-to-date communication between complainants, the media and the public.

The association expressed sympathy for victims of recent flood disaster in many parts of the country ands urged the government and all aid agencies to redouble their efforts in assisting the victims.

It congratulated Justice Georgina Wood on her appointment as the Chief Justice and promised the Bar’s commitment to ensure an enhanced administration of justice in the country.