The Central Prison in Kumasi was built for 800 prisoners but regularly houses 1,250 plus. Overcrowding, such as this means that the spread of diseases is rife and uncontrollable. Many of the inmates are poor people in prison for petty crime such as theft. Such crimes, driven by poverty in the first place, receive harsh punishment as their families do not have the financial means to pay for a defence, or bribes. Many more are on remand awaiting trial. In such an overcrowded system, some will await trial for above two years. The prison infirmary is staffed by three nurses who see up to 100 patients a day, most of whom suffer with malaria or skin conditions such as scabies or chicken pox. The prisoners are reliant on church groups for medicines and clothes if they have no family support. Inter Care supplies basic medicines and dressings to the infirmary.

After a visit in February 2009 it was discovered that there were 1760 inmates, of these, there were 16 who were condemned to death and 36 who were "lifers". They were living in very distressing conditions therfore no recent photographs were taken as we felt this to be intrusive.

When we visited in September 2010, there were 1681 inmates with a number sentenced to the death penalty. The living conditions remain sadly as still very difficult and distressing.