The Ministry of the Interior has unveiled a series of sweeping reforms in the Ghana Prisons Service, aimed at transforming the country’s correctional system into a more rehabilitative and humane environment.
The initiatives include the introduction of educational programmes for juvenile offenders and the expansion of correctional infrastructure to tackle overcrowding and improve inmate welfare.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the Government Accountability Series held at Jubilee House, Interior Minister Hon. Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak announced the rollout of juvenile and secondary education programmes across select prison facilities.
The initiative, he said, is designed to support the continuous learning and rehabilitation of young inmates and reduce recidivism.
“This marks a bold step towards rehabilitative justice,” the Minister stated. “We believe that by empowering inmates—particularly young offenders—with formal education, we can break the cycle of incarceration and equip them with the skills necessary for reintegration into society.”
The education programme is expected to offer structured academic pathways from basic to secondary levels, with the support of the Ghana Education Service (GES) and other stakeholders.
This initiative forms part of a broader policy shift within the Interior Ministry to prioritise human capital development and restorative justice within correctional facilities.
In a related development, Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak also announced the completion and operationalisation of the Damongo Correctional Facility—one of five new camp prisons spearheaded through a unique public-private partnership. The Damongo facility is now fully functional and is intended to ease congestion in existing prisons.
“The Damongo facility is the latest in a series of camp prisons aimed at decongesting our existing prisons and creating a more conducive environment for rehabilitation,” he explained. “These efforts are not just about infrastructure—they are about restoring dignity and purpose to those within the system.”
The Minister expressed deep appreciation to the Church of Pentecost for its instrumental role in the prison reforms. The Church has played a significant part in the construction and near completion of five camp prisons across the country, including the Damongo facility.
“I want to sincerely thank the Church of Pentecost for its extraordinary support. Their partnership with the Prisons Service is a powerful example of what faith-based organisations can contribute to national development,” Mr. Mohammed-Mubarak noted.
He also appealed to the private sector, civil society, and the general public to emulate such support and invest in Ghana’s correctional system. With over 14,000 inmates currently under the care of the Ghana Prisons Service—including a growing number of foreign nationals—he said there is an urgent need for collective action.
“If a church can take the initiative to support prison infrastructure and inmate welfare, then surely businesses, individuals, and communities can also step in. It’s a shared responsibility,” he stressed.
The combination of expanded facilities and inmate-focused programmes represents a significant shift in Ghana’s approach to incarceration—from punitive to reformative. Officials say these reforms are in line with international standards and the country’s commitment to uphold human rights within its criminal justice system.
The Interior Ministry has indicated that further announcements regarding vocational training, inmate reintegration schemes, and mental health support services will be made in the coming months as part of the wider transformation agenda.
