Sodomy cases rise in prisons

The Ghana Prisons Service has admitted that there is a practice among prisoners in Ghana of the age-old sin of sodomy, which led to the anger of the Almighty God culminating in the destruction of the ancient biblical cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

The Service however added that the phenomenon is one that afflicts the whole of the Ghanaian society, and for which a cure has to be found by all stakeholders, including Muslim and Christian leaders in this country.

Additionally, the Service has revealed that the prison authorities are currently confronted with problems such as overcrowding, which results in prisoners sleeping in shifts, lack of logistics and sanitary facilities.

These were brought to the fore when the Ghana Prisons Service hosted journalists at a pre-launch press soiree for its "Efiase" project and the symbolic closure of the James Fort Prison scheduled to take place soon.

All these debilitating conditions, the authorises indicated, are behind the inability of the Service to create conditions that reform prisoners as is expected of civilized nations.

Reacting to an observation from a reporter who wanted it confirmed by the prison authorities that some prisoners engage iin acts of Sodomy, a former Director of the Nsawam prisons affired the fact, saying however, that each time any report of acts of Sodomy had come the notice of the prison authorities, those involved are severely dealt with.

"We admit the occurrence of such nasty acts as you mentioned. We will not be dishonest about it; however, anytime such an incident has occurred, we have moved swiftly to apply severe sanctions on "the husband and wife engaged in the act."

"It is a continuing process," he added, saying that it needs remedial measures on the part of all stakeholders to eliminate the phenomenon of Sodomy in the prisons, which appears to be one major problem but has been kept secret for sometime now.

"Although some of the men and women in our prisons of the same sex at a point identify themselves as man and wife, it is not allowed and those caught in such games are severely punished to serve as deterrent for others."

He added however that although it is suggested that culprits found must be separated and put in different prisons, the Service has resorted to a more proactive approach such as counselling for those engaged in the act to stop.