Heavy flooding has submerged sections of the Sekondi Central Prison in the Western Region, with prison cells reportedly turned into pools of water after torrential rains exposed the facility’s deteriorating drainage system.
The recurring floods have been linked to the prison’s ageing drainage infrastructure and the weak structural condition of the decades-old facility.
Officials say the prison has repeatedly suffered flooding whenever there are heavy rains in Sekondi-Takoradi.
Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson, during a meeting with officials from the Ghana Prisons Service, acknowledged the severity of the flooding challenge and admitted the prison had become structurally vulnerable due to its age and location within a densely populated community.
“The prison is old, weak, and has found itself in the middle of the community. For security reasons, there is a need to consider relocating it,” the minister stated.
The Director of Prisons in charge of Operations and Facility Management, Benedict Bob-Dery, reportedly raised concerns about the worsening situation during the engagement with the minister, warning that persistent flooding continues to affect the welfare of inmates and prison staff.
As part of immediate measures, construction firm Viabuild Africa has been tasked to assess the flooding situation and recommend short-term solutions to reduce the risk of future flooding while discussions continue on the possible relocation and redevelopment of the prison facility.
Lead engineer Andrew Lee has already conducted an initial inspection and is expected to submit a technical report outlining recommendations to address the drainage failures and recurring water invasion at the prison.
