Inmates at the Koforidua prison are being denied medical care as a result of the Prison’s indebtedness to health providers operating under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
The Koforidua prison owes the SDA Hospital, Saint Joseph’s Hospital and the Koforidua Regional Hospital about GH¢40,000. This plague in the administration of the Prison’s Service was revealed during a donation by the Koforidua Effiduase Area Prison Ministry of the Church of Pentecost.
The Church presented items including toilet rolls, plastic buckets, soap, second-hand clothing, bathroom slippers and first aid materials, all valued at about GH¢4,000.
Mr Samuel C. Otabil, Assistant Controller of Prisons at the Koforidua Local Prison said most of the inmates serving short sentences have been registered on the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) because of soaring debt. He expressed appreciation to the church and called on the general public to assist the prison to stock its infirmary and provide medical equipments to the Prison.
Peter Latif, leader of the inmates, appealed to individuals and organizations to provide benches for the prisoners since most of them stood during church service.