Mr Justice Francis Emile Short, Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Friday, expressed disgust at the conditions of the Ashaiman Police cells.
"I just do not understand why the authorities would allow human beings to live under such inhumane conditions", he said.
Mr Justice Short, who was accompanied by his two deputies, Madam Hanna Bossman and Mr Richard
Quayson, and other officials, shook his head in disbelief, after visiting the Cells to assess the human rights situation there.
His visit followed the death of two inmates of the Cells on Sunday evening and Monday morning, and the collapse of three others, due to suffocation and excessive heat at the Cells.
Mr Justice Short stated that it was very sad that even though Ghana was talking about growing her democracy, the rights of prisoners were not respected.
He again said, instead of using cells and prisons, as correctional homes, prisoners were rather subjected to cruelty and "these people would come out rather as monsters".
At the time of the visit, a headcount by the CHRAJ boss revealed that there were 30 inmates in the Cell,which was supposed to take 10 people.
There was lack of ventilation in the Cells, as it had only a few holes at the top, instead of windows.
The situation has created immense heat, which has led to most of the inmates having skin disorders.
The Commissioner observed that some of the inmates have stayed in the Cell for over six months, while some, who have been granted bail by the courts, were still being kept in the Cells.
Mr Justice Short indicated that "the Cells is so hot that staying there for just five minutes was unbearable for me, if the condition persists, more inmates will die from excessive
heat".
He stated that "they must be treated with some amount of dignity as human beings".
"How can they keep a 16-year-old boy in the same cells with adults for six months; this is unacceptable?"the Commissioner queried.
He said as a matter of urgency, some of the prisoners must be taken to other cells, while a window with iron bars must be provided to ensure ventilation.
Mr Justice Short disclosed that he would meet with the Inspector General of Police (IGP) on the issue, to find a solution to it
He further disclosed that he would pay a second visit to gather statistics on every inmate in the cells.
Superintendent Peter Kobina, Ashaiman District Police Commander, answering questions from the Commissioner, said the cell currently contained 26 inmates, as 14 of them were taken to the Nsawam Prisons on Friday morning.
Supt Kobina said the station had no alternative, than to keep the inmates, who had been remanded into Police custody by the courts at the cells, due to the nature of some of their offences.
The Ashaiman Commander said the congestion might also be attributed to the refusal of some inmates to be transferred to the Nsawam Prisons.
He explained that due to visits and food they received from their relatives when kept in cells, some inmates feigned sickness upon reaching the Nsawam Prisons gates, leading to the
refusal of Prisons Officials to take them in.