“The prison is built for human beings, not animals” – Peter Toobu backs Wontumi’s call for reforms

The Member of Parliament for Wa West, Peter Lanchene Toobu, has called for a national conversation on prison conditions and the need to ensure that inmates are treated humanely, regardless of the offences for which they are serving sentences.

His comments follow former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman Bernard Antwi-Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi’s call for sweeping reforms in Ghana’s prison system, including a dedicated prison hospital, improved welfare for prison officers, and regulated conjugal visits for inmates.

The proposals follow his remand on July 20, 2026, according to a statement issued on Tuesday by his spokesperson, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah to mark his 100 days in detention.

Dr Boakye-Danquah said his visits to Chairman Wontumi had provided an opportunity for the politician to reflect on conditions within the Ghana Prisons Service, which he believes have seen limited structural improvement since 1962.

Chairman Wontumi is advocating a shift from a punishment-focused system to one that prioritises rehabilitation, welfare and productivity.

Speaking on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem, Mr Toobu said prisons were established not only to protect the public by keeping offenders away from society but also to reform them.

He argued that committing a crime should not strip an individual of their humanity, stressing that inmates deserve humane treatment while serving their sentences.

“The prison is built for human beings, not animals. People are sent to prison as a means of reformation and also for public safety because criminals are incapacitated,” he said.