“What do we already know, and what remains invisible?” – Mr. Kwabena Abrokwah Gyimah of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST)
On the 30th January, 2026, Merton & Everett LLP, represented by Michelle Akuffo, Joyann Obeng, Haruna-Rasheed Mohammed, and David Aidoo, attended a roundtable discussion at the Institute for Scientific and Technological Information (CSIR-INSTI) in Accra to address the Climate-Health-Security Nexus in Ghana’s Prison Sector.
This event brought together representatives from the Ghana Prisons Service (GPS), the Ghana Health Service and the research community to tackle the complex challenges facing our correctional system.
The Challenges We Explored:
The roundtable highlighted several urgent issues that demand legal and systemic attention:
- The Overcrowding Crisis: Ghana’s prisons are currently operating at approximately 137-138 percent of their intended capacity.
- Climate as a Risk Multiplier: Rising temperatures and extreme heat are worsening conditions in older facilities with poor ventilation. This environmental threat increases the likelihood of health risks and creates operational strain for both inmates and staff.
- The Policy Gap: A significant driver of overcrowding is the high number of inmates on extended remand due to delays in police investigations and court scheduling.
- Resource Constraints: While the daily feeding grant recently increased from GHS 1.80 to GHS 5.00, the service still struggles to maintain quality care amidst rising costs.
Our Role in the Discussion: Operational Realities within Prisons
Merton & Everett LLP didn’t just attend; we actively shaped the dialogue. Our associate, Joyann Obeng, moderated Session 1, which focused on the Operational Realities within Prisons. This session provided a critical platform for prison officials to share the daily struggles of managing facilities under immense pressure.
