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Prof. Attaffuah condemns torture at Nsawam Prisons

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Even though prisoners abused by prisons officers are entitled to some legal remedy, Human Rights advocate Professor Ken Attafuah says the requirements are so stringent that it is almost impossible for abused prisoners to get justice. His comments come on the back of reports that some prisoners who engaged in sodomy at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, had their genitals smeared with a mixture of cement and salt upon the instructions of an officer. They ended up at the Nsawam government hospital with burns. The criminal law lecturer who spoke to Myjoyonline.com in an exclusive interview Friday. Prof. Attafuah, obviously disgusted by the report, described the incident as barbaric; saying that if the events alleged occurred, then “the punishment…constitutes torture and degrading treatment against the persons." "And constitutes a violation of Article 15(1) of the constitution, which provides that “the dignity of all persons shall be inviolable.” He maintained that what happened was “an instant of torture” and must be condemned. In theory, Prof Attafuah explained, prisoners whose rights are abused may access the services of lawyers, file complaints at the courts or with the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) but acknowledged, that may be problematic in practical terms, given that prisoners are by their circumstances severely constrained.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.