Spokesperson for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, says the former New Patriotic Party (NPP) Ashanti Regional Chairman has raised concerns about alleged same-sex sexual activity among inmates at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, warning of potential violence if prison authorities fail to intervene.
Speaking on Class 91.3 FM’s evening news analysis programme, 505 with Charles Akrofi, on Tuesday, October 27, Dr Boakye-Danquah said Mr Boasiako raised the concerns during discussions about his experience in prison.
According to him, Mr Boasiako claimed that the phrase “pay, pay, pay” is used among inmates to signal sexual encounters between male prisoners or female prisoners.
He alleged that prison officers who fail to respond promptly to such situations could risk violent confrontations among inmates.
“You are aware that in Nsawam prison people are not allowed to have sex… and he says that when you hear ‘pay, pay, pay’ it means that a man is sleeping with a man or a woman is sleeping with a woman and so if the prison officers don’t get there early, you would realise that they will kill each other… so he calls for a clear demarcation of inmates,” Dr Boakye-Danquah said.
He said Mr Boasiako was advocating a more effective inmate classification system to improve security and ensure that prisoners are appropriately separated based on the nature and severity of their offences.
“Inmate classification is one of the things that Chairman calls for. It is important that we don’t mix up all the hardened criminals with people who don’t have an idea of certain high level of crimes,” he said.
Dr Boakye-Danquah also called for stronger safeguards to prevent inmates convicted of sexual offences from allegedly engaging in further abusive conduct while serving their sentences.
“And he’s asking that people that are in prison for defilement, we should ensure that they don’t continue to perpetuate their act of defilement in prison,” he added.
The spokesperson further connected the concerns to Ghana’s ongoing debate over proposed legislation on LGBTQI+ issues, arguing that any individuals arrested in connection with such matters could end up in the country’s prisons.
“You are aware that Ghana is working towards passing the anti LGBTQI+ and so if someone is involved in gayism or lesbianism and the person is picked up and arrested, the person will end up in any of the prisons in the country,” he said.
Dr Boakye-Danquah maintained that clearer classification and separation of inmates would help strengthen prison security, minimise the risk of violence and protect vulnerable prisoners from potential abuse.
However, the allegations of same-sex sexual activity at Nsawam Medium Security Prison have not been independently verified by Class News. The account of Dr Boakye-Danquah’s remarks did not include a response from the Ghana Prisons Service.
