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MPs divided over Transfer of Convicted
Persons Bill
Accra, July 11, GNA - Members of Parliament were on
Wednesday divided over whether the time was ripe for the
passage of the Transfer of Convicted Persons Bill currently
before the House.
While some said the country was not ready, financially and
institutionally, to provide shelter for convicted Ghanaian
outside, others disagreed, saying the borders of the country
should be opened to Ghanaian prisoners outside because they
were kith and kin.
The issue came up during the Second Reading of the Bill,
which seeks to enable Ghanaians convicted outside the
country to serve their sentences in Ghana and other foreign
nationals convicted in Ghana to serve theirs in their
countries.
The current Extradition Act 1960, (Act 22) only permits a
person accused of an offence committed outside Ghana to
serve the term of imprisonment in Ghana where the Republic
of Ghana has an extradition agreement with the other
country.
So far, there are no figures to indicate the number of
Ghanaian prisoners outside but it is on record that about
100 Ghanaian prisoners are in jail in Thailand.
Mr. Yaw Baah, (NPP-Kumawu) who kicked the debate on
Wednesday said, precaution was needed in passing the bill
because the prisons were already congested and could not
accommodate more prisoners from outside.
He has, therefore, proposed a transitional provision in the
bill to make room for a period to allow for the expansion of
facilities before the implementation of the bill if it is to
be passed.
Mr Francis Agbotse, (NDC-Ho West) said the congestion in the
prisons was forcing the prisoners to take turns sleeping.
He said it was important that the justice system considers
non-custodial sentences as a first option to de-congest the
prisons.
Mr Inusah Fuseini, (NDC-Tamale Central), took a contrary
view and said some Ghanaian prisoners outside were suffering
inhuman treatment and needed to come home to receive the
comfort of their families.
Mr Yaw Osafo Maafo, (NPP-Akim Oda) said the country should
not be made to pay for the cost of transferring prisoners
back home.
GNA
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