ACCRA – Nigerian inmates in the Ghanaian prisons have enjoined the Federal Government to urgently
fast track the process for the signing of Prison Transfer Agreement between Nigeria and Ghana to enable them complete their prison terms in their motherland.
They made the appeal on Thursday, April 19, 2018, during the visit of the Nigeria High Commissioner to Ghana, Ambassador Olufemi Michael ABIKOYE to see the Nigerian inmates in the Nsawan Medium Prison in the Eastern Region of Ghana, where over 200 of the Nigerian inmates are domiciled.
The Nigerian inmates also acknowledged the gesture of the Federal Government with regards to their welfare in host prisons. They however complained of discriminatory high prison terms of between 50 to 105 years meted on some of them by the Ghanaian Judiciary and therefore appealed to the Nigerian Government to take up the issue with the Ghanaian Government.
There are no fewer than 359 Nigerian prisoners in the various Ghanaian prisons in the ten regions of the country, for offences ranging from drug trafficking, human trafficking, armed robbery to stealing.
The Nigerian inmates in these prisons have been commended by the Ghanaian prison authority for being of good behaviour. Some of them hold leadership positions in the prisons and also engage in formal education, carpentry, weaving, tailoring and other activities organised in the prison.
Their major frustration while serving their jail terms in host prisons is the lack of the Prison Transfer Agreement between Nigeria and Ghana that could allow them complete their remaining terms in Nigeria.
Recall that during the 7th Session of the Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation (PJCC) between Nigeria and Ghana which was held from 18th to 20th October 2017, in Accra, Ghana, a draft Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was agreed upon with a view to facilitating the exchange of prisoners between the two countries. The draft MoU was to be studied and considered for ratification at a later date by both countries which is yet to be done.
In the light of the aforementioned appeal by the Nigerian inmates, it is hoped that the Agency liaises with the Attorney General and Solicitor General of Nigeria to fast –tract the process of the signing of MoU on the Prison Transfer Agreement between Nigeria and Ghana.
The signing of the MoU would no doubt be beneficial to Nigerian nationals in host prisons who desire to spend the remaining part of their prison terms in Nigeria where their relations could visit them from time to time.
However, the delay in signing the agreement could create frustrations among the Nigerian inmates which could degenerate into security concerns and unpleasant consequences in host prisons.
