Spokesperson for Bernard Antwi Boasiako, alias Chairman Wontumi, Dr Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, says Chairman Wontumi has raised concerns about alleged same-sex sexual activities among inmates at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.

Speaking on Class 91.3 FM’s evening news analysis programme 505 with Charles Akrofi, on Tuesday, October 27, Dr Boakye-Danquah said the former NPP Ashanti Regional Chairman had raised the issue during their discussions about his experience in prison.

According to him, Mr Boasiako said the phrase “pay, pay, pay” is used by inmates to signal sexual activity between male inmates or female inmates.

He said Mr Boasiako had warned that if prison officers failed to intervene quickly, such encounters could lead to violent confrontations.

“You are aware that in Nsawam prison people are not allowed to have sex… and he says that when you hear ‘pay, pay pay’ it means that a man is sleeping with a man or a woman is sleeping with a woman and so if the prison officers don’t get there early, you would realize that they will kill each other… so he calls for a clear demarcation of inmates,” Dr Boakye-Danquah said.

He said the concerns formed part of Mr Boasiako’s call for better classification of inmates in Ghana’s prisons.

“Inmate classification is one of the things that Chairman calls for. It is important that we don’t mix up all the hardened criminals with people who don’t have an idea of certain high level of crimes,” he said.

Dr Boakye-Danquah also said particular attention should be paid to inmates convicted of sexual offences.

“And he’s asking that people that are in prison for defilement, we should ensure that they don’t continue to perpetuate their act of defilement in prison,” he said.

He further linked the issue to Ghana’s efforts to pass legislation on LGBTQI+ matters.

“You are aware that Ghana is working towards passing the anti LGBTQI+ and so if someone is involved in gayism or lesbianism and the person is picked up and arrested, the person will end up in any of the prisons in the country,” he said.

Dr Boakye-Danquah said clearer classification and separation of inmates would help address security concerns and protect prisoners from potential abuse.

The allegations of same-sex sexual activity at Nsawam Prison have not been independently verified by Class News.

No response from the Ghana Prisons Service was included in the account of Dr Boakye-Danquah’s remarks.