The Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) Commissioner, Francis Emile Short, has asked the Inspector General of Police, Paul Tawiah Quaye to follow through with talk to decongest the country’s cells. Mr. Short visited the Ashaiman police cells unannounced Friday, February 12, for a familiarisation tour. Two inmates died from suspected suffocation at the cells on Monday 8 February, 2010. About thirty inmates, who have been cramped in a cell originally meant for ten people, shouted themselves hoarse demanding better treatment. The Ashaiman District Commander, Joseph Quainoo, said although the police are equally concerned about the conditions, there is very little they can do about it. He said the hands of the police are tied even harder in situations where the Attorney General’s Department has to advice on a case. The CHRAJ boss, who could not hide his disgust, told reporters he would meet with the IGP over how best to manage the country’s cells. He told Joy News the congestion is an indication the “Access to Justice Programme” has failed. Mr Short said officials are failing to comply with a resolution reached between the Commission, the IGP and the Ghana Prisons Service to release certain categories of remand prisoners. According to him, it was agreed in a meeting between the three institutions last year that remand prisoners who have served more than ten years must be released but this seems not to have happened. For the CHRAJ boss, the situation is also indicative of a certain lack of will to decongest the prisons and cells. “These are people who have no voice, they have no vote,” Mr Short said of the inmates and urged the authorities to take action to ensure justice for all. Source: Joy News/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana