Hunger Pushing Ghanaian Prisoners Into Homosexuality-Ex-Convict Reveals

An ex-convict, Issah Alhassan has revealed that homosexuality in the country’s prisons is no longer a secret as the practice is very common among inmates who engage in it for survival.

“Homosexuality is fast growing among inmates in our prisons…. it’s serious. In the actual sense, an inmate has the right not to do it, but I tell it is very inducing. It not because of anything precious one would like to have, but just for the reason of hunger”. He told Angel Fm in Kumasi on the stations Drive Time Show hosted by Fancy Dimaria last Friday.

According to him, though inmates are fed, the food provided is not sufficient to sustain them. It is very hard to find good food to eat in prison. Mr. Alhassan confirmed that the practice is common with people who have been given longer sentences adding that, some male inmates go to the extent of having the guts to say “I have dumped my partner for a new one”. Mr. Alhassan quoted some inmates as saying.

Explaining further, Alhassan stated that, most people convicted of defilement serving their sentence in prison have never changed as they continue to live such lifestyles.

“In prison, homosexuality is known as “kpeeh” as Ghanaian Musician Castro used in one of his music. He alleged revealing that it is the most miserable aspect of his experience as a convict.

He blamed the increasing practice among inmates for the insufficient food they are fed on and inadequate facilities to contain them.

The ex-convict also alleged that, some prison officers convince new inmates and hand them over to the evil doers for money saying some of the victims are usually not forced into the act but the situation at the prison makes them give in softly to homosexuals.

Mr. Alhassan, was sentenced six years imprisonment by Agona Swedru District Court for raping a seventeen-year-old SHS student who he claimed the lady was his girlfriend.

He served his term in the Nsawam Medium prisons adding that his family did not know his whereabouts since he was imprisoned because he did not get the opportunity to contact any of his members before his conviction.