Parliament has passed the Transfer of Convicted Persons Bill into law after taking it through the third reading.

The Bill, yet to receive Presidential assent, would enable Ghanaians convicted outside the country serve their sentences in Ghana and other foreign nationals convicted in Ghana serve theirs in their home countries.

Although debate on the bill was non-partisan, the passage of the bill was preceded by days of heated arguments and sharp divisions.

Those against the bill said it was a waste to spend resources on transporting convicted Ghanaian prisoners back home.

They argued that the country's prisons were already choked with a large number of prisoners sharing limited facilities.

Members who supported the bill, however, countered those arguments, saying convicted Ghanaian prisoners were kith and kin and needed support from fellow countrymen.

A report of the Committee on Legal, Constitutional and Parliamentary Affairs presented to the House said: "The Commonwealth Secretariat has proposed a scheme to enact legislation to facilitate the transfer of convicted prisoners to address issues where extradition does not respond to the transfer of convict."

"So far not less than 25-member countries of the Commonwealth have enacted legislation in this regard," it added.

The Report said President J.A. Kufuor continues to receive persistent request during his visits abroad from citizens abroad for Ghanaian convicts to serve their prison terms in Ghana.

"The introduction of the Bill for consideration of this House was informed by the above stated concerns," it explained.

Source: GNA