WE WON'T GO TO NSAWAM, Declares Ashaiman Cell Inmates, DAILY GRAPHIC, MON FEB 22, 10 (PAGE 27)

NINE inmates of the Ashaiman Police cells who were to be transported to the Nsawam Medium Prisons smeared themselves with human excreta while demonstrating in the cells when the ‘Black Maria’ which was to transport them to Nsawam arrived at the station Friday morning.
The inmates cited lack of support from the authority and non-access to food and other resources at their disposal for their action.
According to them, being sent to Nsawam, would deny them daily provision of food, clothing and vital information from their families some of whom resides in the town and its adjourning communities.
The news of the demonstration attracted scores of residents and traders within the community who besieged the frontage of the station to catch a glimpsed of the action.
The action also saw the Black Maria driving away after fruitless efforts on the part of personnel to get the inmates on board.
Briefing the Daily Graphic on the incidents, the Ashaiman Police District Commander, Supt Peter Kobina indicated, following the death of two inmates of the cell a fortnight ago, the Inspector General of Police, Mr Paul Tawiah Quaye has ordered an immediate evacuation of inmates to make way for construction of a new cell and subsequent renovation of the old facility.
According to Supt Kobina, seven inmates who were part of 16 remand prisoners in the cell were dispatched a week ago, while further arrangement with the police transport department for the conveyance of the rest nine was schedule for that fateful friday.
‘We were taken aback when inmates rushed into the toilet smearing themselves amidst shouts of we won’t go to Nsawam, upon hearing the sounds of the vehicle in the compound’, he remarked.
He however assured personnel would engage inmates in a persuasive manner so that they would be sent to Nsawam by Monday.
When the Daily Graphic got to the scene at about 12: 00pm, inmates were heard chanting suggestive songs to indicate their unpreparedness to be sent to the Nsawam medium prison.
Inmates who saw the clicks of still cameras in the charge office appealed to media personnel to plead with the authorities to rescind their decision.
Two persons who were on remand at the station on alleged charges of causing harm died while waiting to be put before court.
The two, William Asomani,30 and Issaka Salifu, 38 died from suffocation following excessive heat resulting from congestion in the cells which was holding 45 inmates at the time of the incident although, it was originally built to carry ten inmates at a time.
The occurrence saw the Commissioner of the Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr Emile Short and his Deputy, Ms Anna Bossman visiting the cells to get a first hand information on the incident.