A senior officer of the Ghana Prisons Service, Chief Officer Michael Osei-Bonsu, has been remanded into custody after being arrested for allegedly attempting to smuggle a substance suspected to be Indian hemp into the Kete-Krachi Local Prison.
According to a statement issued by the Ghana Prisons Service on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the officer was arrested during routine security checks at the prison gate before he reported for his night shift on Friday, June 19.
The Service said officers on duty detected and retrieved the suspected narcotic substance during standard screening procedures, preventing it from entering the prison facility.
“The incident occurred on Friday, June 19, 2026, during routine security checks conducted by officers on duty before the commencement of the officer’s night shift. Through the vigilance and professionalism of the officers, the suspected narcotic substance was detected and retrieved at the prison gate,” the statement noted.
Following his arrest, Michael Osei-Bonsu was handed over to the Kete-Krachi District Police for further investigations and later appeared before the Kete-Krachi District Magistrate Court.
The court subsequently remanded him into custody for two weeks, with the case adjourned to July 8, 2026.
The Ghana Prisons Service also announced that the officer has been interdicted in accordance with its internal regulations while both the criminal investigation and disciplinary proceedings continue.
Reaffirming its stance on contraband-related offences, the Service stressed that it will not tolerate any involvement of its personnel in drug smuggling or other prohibited activities.
“The Ghana Prisons Service wishes to assure the general public that it maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward drug-related offences and other contrabands, including mobile phones,” the statement added.
The incident has sparked renewed discussions about security measures within correctional facilities and the need for strict enforcement of regulations among prison staff.
