The Ghana Prisons Service has launched investigations into an allegation that some inmates attempted to poison convicted former Ashanti Regional New Patriotic Party (NPP) Chairman, Bernard Antwi Boasiako, popularly known as Chairman Wontumi, while assuring the public that his safety is not under threat.
The Service says it received the allegation through Wontumi’s spokesperson rather than directly from the businessman and politician, raising the need to establish the facts surrounding the reported incident.
Chief Public Relations Officer of the Ghana Prisons Service, Chief Prison Superintendent Abdul Latif, confirmed the investigations in an interview with MyJoyOnline, explaining that authorities were seeking to establish whether the alleged poisoning attempt actually occurred and determine the appropriate response if the claim proved true.
He stressed that the Service was treating the matter seriously despite the unusual nature of the allegation.
According to him, incidents involving inmates allegedly attempting to poison fellow prisoners or prison officers were not common in Ghana’s correctional facilities.
CPS Latif said the authorities were therefore surprised by the allegation but had initiated investigations because the safety and welfare of inmates remained important responsibilities of the Service.
He, however, assured the public that Wontumi was safe and that there was no immediate cause for concern regarding his security in custody.
The Prisons Service also disputed claims that five inmates had been transferred from their cells following the alleged incident. Responding specifically to the claim, CPS Latif said he could not confirm that any such transfers had taken place.
The prison authorities further rejected suggestions that Wontumi was receiving preferential treatment because of his political standing and public profile.
CPS Latif maintained that prison regulations applied equally to all inmates and that Wontumi was subject to the same rules and requirements governing other prisoners.
He argued that claims of special treatment were unfounded, pointing to the severe overcrowding confronting Ghana’s prison system, particularly at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.
According to the prison official, a facility designed to accommodate approximately 851 inmates is currently holding more than 3,000 prisoners, highlighting the pressure on available accommodation and other resources.
He suggested that allegations of preferential treatment might have been circulated to attract public attention, insisting that the Service had established no basis to support such claims.
Wontumi is serving a 20 year prison sentence following his conviction for permitting mining activities on his Samreboi mining concession without approval from the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.
The investigation into the alleged poisoning attempt is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the claim and determine whether any action is necessary to safeguard inmates.
For now, the Ghana Prisons Service says Wontumi remains safe in custody, while authorities work to establish the truth behind the allegation.
