News
K’si Central Prison inmates show prowess at AshantiFest 2025
Soap, slippers, beads, kente cloth, and other handcrafted goods made by inmates of the Kumasi Central Prisons took a centre stage during this year’s Ashanti Festival/AshantiFest, a celebration that also highlighted major challenges facing the overpopulated correctional facility.
Held last Thursday, the fourth day of AshantiFest was dedicated to the Kumasi Central Prison, which hosted the event on prison grounds.
Amoakohene with some of the Prisons
Officers at Ashantifest
As part of the festival, inmates exhibited a wide range of products they had made through vocational training programmes aimed at reforming and equipping them for life after incarceration.
The public turned out in numbers to purchase the products, which included liquid soap, slippers, bags, kente cloth, and beads. Prison officers also entertained guests with vibrant jama songs and live band performances.
Amid the cultural display, Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr Frank Amoakohene, announced that the government was considering relocating the Kumasi Central Prison from its current site in Adum.
Built in 1901 and last expanded in 1935 to hold 500 inmates, the facility now houses nearly 2,000 — creating severe overcrowding and health concerns.
Dr. Amoakohene explained that the relocation would allow for improved infrastructure and the expansion of training facilities to support inmate rehabilitation.
“This fits into the government’s ‘Feed the Country’ programme, allowing us to not only reform inmates but also contribute to food production and national development,” he said.
Kumasi Central Prisons Commander, DDP, James B. Mwinyelle, urged the public to support reformed inmates and help them reintegrate into society.
“All the inmates here will one day leave the four walls of this prison,” he said. “Let’s not discriminate against them when they do,” he stated.
He also appealed for private sector partnerships to scale up training initiatives.
“We produce FDA-approved sachet water and run several skills programmes. With support, we can do more to ensure inmates leave here with employable skills,” he added.
As part of the event, medical screening was provided for inmates, while MTN and Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital held a blood donation drive.
Donors encouraged Ghanaians to participate in similar exercises to save lives.
Moreover, the Ashanti Regional Minister also shared recent improvements to the prison’s health centre, including a new roof, tiling, air conditioning, and medical equipment.
AshantiFest, spearheaded by Dr. Amoakohene, aims to promote Ashanti culture, boost the local economy through support for locally made products, and help revive the Kumawood movie industry.
From Kingsley E. Hope, Kumasi
The Ghana Police Service has begun automated enforcement of road traffic laws under a new system dubbed Traffitech-GH.
In a statement signed by the Director-General of Public Affairs, Deputy Commissioner of Police Grace Ansah-Akrofi, the Service said the project officially took effect on November 1, 2026.
The system is being implemented by the Motor Traffic and Transport Department (MTTD).
Under the initiative, motorists who commit traffic offences will receive an Electronic Notice of Violation (ENV).
The Police said motorists must first check that the notification comes from the official Sender ID, GPS-MTTD, adding that genuine notifications will not be sent from an ordinary mobile phone number.
Motorists are to open the ENV to confirm the vehicle’s photograph and number plate, as well as the location, date and time of the offence, and watch the video where available.
According to the police, payments can be made through the NIB Payment Portal.
The Police cautioned motorists and vehicle owners to remain vigilant against fraud and never pay a traffic fine into a personal mobile money number or through any unofficial account.
The Service expressed appreciation to the general public, particularly motorists, vehicle owners and transport operators, for their cooperation in promoting safer roads and ensuring compliance with road traffic laws.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Miracles Aboagye, has taken a swipe at the government over the worsening cost of living in the country.
In a strongly worded statement, Aboagye said while the cost of living continues to skyrocket, the government keeps pointing Ghanaians to figures on paper.
According to him, the reality on the ground tells a different story:
Cocoa farmers have suffered a haircut, tertiary students are demonstrating over high fees and accommodation, teachers and nurses are striking over unpaid allowances, and judiciary workers are also on strike over unpaid allowances.
He added that transport fares, electricity, water, and fuel prices are all higher than before, making life unbearable for the ordinary Ghanaian.
“The cost of living and the pocket of the Ghanaian citizen keeps worsening but government says, don’t cry about the pocket when the paper looks good,” Aboagye said.
He summed up his criticism with the hashtags #PaperEconomyPocketDry and #PaperEconomyVsPocketEconomy — a direct jab at what he describes as a disconnect between official economic figures and the daily struggles of Ghanaians.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
