Muntaka Proposes Public- Private Partnerships, Community Support for Prison Decongestion
Alhaji Muntaka Mubarak, Interior Minister nominee, has outlined a multi-faceted approach to tackling prison decongestion in Ghana, emphasizing community support and public-private partnerships (PPP) during his vetting process.
Muntaka called for a shift in how society views inmates, urging the public to see them as fellow human beings who, through circumstance, found themselves in prison.
He argued that this perspective is crucial to fostering community support, which he believes is more effective than relying solely on government funding for prison rehabilitation.
Muntaka proposed exploring PPPs as a viable solution to address the infrastructure challenges facing Ghana’s prisons. He cited examples of privately built and government-rented prisons in the US, and suggested that this model could be adapted in Ghana, whilst being mindful of security concerns.
He also suggested the possibility of utilizing under-utilized agency land as a form of exchange for constructing new facilities.
He also stressed the need for better categorization of prisons and inmates, to prevent overcrowding and ensure that prisoners are housed in facilities appropriate for their security risk and needs.
“If we all see that, yes, these are our own breeding, but for one reason or the other, they found themselves there, and we are willing to assist, I’m sure this will improve,” Muntaka stated, adding that he and his team will be looking for solutions to decongest the prisons if approved as Interior Minister.
He added that these measures will ensure that government will be able to deal with the issues.
