Many die in prison

A total of 106 inmates died last year of various diseases in Ghana’s prisons, with HIV/AIDS claiming 20 lives, according to the 2000 Annual Report of the Ghana Prisons Service, quoted by local media. Other main causes of death included diarrheoa, pneumonia, anaemia, hypertension, asthma. The report said inadequate state funding has caused prison conditions to deteriorate over the last few years. Malnutrition and lack of medical equipment were the two areas most affected by the lack of funds, Joy-FM radio reported. The radio reported the director of prison services, Richard Kuuire, as saying that his office would propose reforms such as open camps, custodial sentences and parole for minor offenders to reduce overcrowding.