Ghana Card blocks prison graduates from National Service - Inmates appeal to Parliament to intervene

All 63 inmates from Nsawam Medium Security Prison graduated from the University of Cape Coast (UCC). However, they cannot undertake their mandatory one-year national service. This is because they have not received their Ghana Cards. The Ghana Card is necessary for national service registration.

An inmate who has been in prison for 13 years shared this information. He spoke to the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights during a visit last Monday. He asked the committee to help them complete their national service.

The committee was led by Chairman Ernest Yaw Anim, MP for Kumawu. They visited to assess prison conditions and ensure compliance with human rights standards. Other members included MPs from various constituencies, such as Elvis Osei Mensah Dapaah and Francis-Xavier Sosu.

Deputy Director of Prisons Patrick Thomas Seidu confirmed the inmate's claims to the Daily Graphic. He mentioned that communication from the National Identification Authority stated only children could register for Ghana Cards. No specific date was given for registering inmates.

DDP Seidu discussed several issues affecting the prison. The facility was built for 717 inmates but now houses 3,548 due to overcrowding. Each dormitory originally held 20 inmates but now accommodates 430.

He also noted that feeding grants have not increased since 20