The Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie (ESQ), has announced that government has approved an increase in the daily feeding allowance for inmates to GH¢5, though the funds are yet to be disbursed.
She explained that until recently, prison authorities had to feed each inmate on just GH¢1.80 a day—an amount she described as woefully inadequate. Appearing before the Public Accounts Committee on Tuesday, September 30, Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie warned that poor nutrition remains a major trigger of unrest in prisons.
“Once feeding is poor, it affects health and everything else. We are hopeful the GH¢5 will be released soon and, possibly, increased further in 2026 to reflect the dietary needs of adults—especially those behind bars,” she said.
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To supplement the meagre allocation, prison facilities currently depend on small-scale gardens, fish ponds, and donations from churches and benevolent groups.
Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie cautioned that food shortages often lead to riots, putting the lives of prison officers at risk. “When inmates riot, the first target is usually the prison officer before any intervention arrives. That is why we do everything possible to keep them calm by managing food supply,” she noted.
Beyond feeding, she underscored the need for broader reforms to improve prison conditions and inmate welfare, stressing its link to public safety.
“If we want true national security, we must prioritise the welfare of prisoners. They are part of society, they will rejoin us, and none of us knows who may end up as the next inmate,” she added.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem