Agradaa To Face Overcrowding and Other Challenges at Nsawam Prison, Director Speaks in Video
- The Eastern Regional Commander of Prisons, DDP Patrick Thomas Siedu, has opened up about the poor conditions of the Nsawam Prison
- The director gave his perspective after controversial televangelist Nana Agradaa was handed a 15-year sentence over fraud charges
- Many Ghanaians were not happy that Agradaa would experience these poor conditions, while others shared their opinions in the comments
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The Eastern Region Prisons Director has shed more light on the challenges prisoners face at the Nsawam Prison. This comes after controversial televangelist Nana Agradaa was handed a 15-year jail sentence on July 3, 2025.
Source: Instagram
Challenges Agradaa will face at Nsawam Prison
A report by JoyNews' Stephen Mensah noted that the prison, which was built to house 717 inmates, now houses more than five times its capacity.
The video report highlighted the challenges of the prisoners, which include poor living conditions and overcrowding.
In an interview, the Eastern Regional Commander of Prisons, DDP Patrick Thomas Siedu, said the facility was at the breaking point.
"Those who are in the condemned cells, when they serve 10 years, are always qualified for the grant of presidential amnesty. Over a period of time, it has not happened," he said.
He further explained that when these prisoners served with good conduct, they were eligible for a presidential pardon.
The Nsawam Prison director further shared some challenges the facility was facing, and the first he highlighted was the quality of food.
"It is a challenge feeding because they are being fed on GH¢1.80 a day, and this has persisted for over a decade," he said.
Agradaa's possible prison diet
Apart from the accommodation challenges, Nana Agradaa will also possibly face an unfavourable feeding routine during her time in jail.
Speaking in an interview with New Mercury 91.5 FM, a prison officer, identified as Mr Owusu, said the controversial preacher may have to survive on a paltry daily allocation of GH₵ 1.80.
He said that the allocation was woefully inadequate and claimed that authorities have refused to increase it despite that having been the policy for more than a decade.
"We feed them on GH₵ 1.80 per day, which comes out to 60 pesewas for breakfast, lunch, and supper. How much does one sachet of water cost? This means feeding 1,600 prisoners one meal in a day costs less than GH₵ 1,000 to the state, making the quality of food quite bad,” he said.
The prison officer asked the host of the show to state what food he thinks prisoners can eat with such a paltry allocation, when it’s not even enough for one meal in a day, much less three.
“Look at the well-built men and women in prison; how can that amount feed them? If I ask you [the host] to feed yourself with GH₵ 5 a day, what can you buy? Tell me! Our officers are working magic to be able to feed them with such little amounts,” he concluded.
Reactions to poor Nsawam Prison conditions
The reactions to the video about the poor conditions at Nsawam Prison are below:
oheneba_anning said:
"For the prison director to plead for amnesty for prisoners, the situation must be extremely bad and inhumane."
robb_mensah said:
"These are the places where the money for the cathedrals should be directed to."
gina.otis said:
"The government should be appointing or employing government lawyers for all courts to assist those who can’t afford to get a lawyer."
skylish___ said:
"Bruh. This is why we for make money o. Aww. Remand 8years."
_lady.yvone said:
"Hhhmmm, then they won’t have space for Agradaa #freeAgradaa."
official_elisheba said:
"1.80p eeeeiii how? Even a child can’t be fed with that, let alone adults. Yes, they did wrong, and deserve to serve their term, but they should at least be fed. This one di3 prison won't kill them, it’s hunger."
christopherangn said:
"But Agradaa must stay there."
Source: Instagram
Man secretly films Agradaa entering Nsawam Prison
YEN.com.gh reported that a Ghanaian man, known on TikTok as @tetteyfiorobert, sparked conversation online after secretly filming controversial televangelist Nana Agradaa as she arrived at Nsawam Prison.
The footage was captured shortly after Agradaa was sentenced to 15 years behind bars for charlatanic advertisement and defrauding by false pretences, a verdict that has drawn both sympathy and criticism.
Reactions to the video were mixed. While some viewers expressed sadness over Agradaa’s long absence, others focused on the ethics of recording such a private moment and debated the appropriateness of sharing it online.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
