President John Dramani Mahama has announced a series of reforms aimed at modernizing Ghana’s prison system while enhancing the rehabilitation and reintegration of inmates.
Speaking at the commissioning of the Damongo Prison Camp on Wednesday, he highlighted initiatives designed to provide inmates with practical skills and meaningful opportunities.
“The Prison Service is being supported to engage in large-scale farming, including poultry and vegetable production.
The government is providing fertiliser and mechanised equipment to improve productivity over the next three years,” Mahama stated.
The initiative will also see prison industries operating around the clock, producing items such as school uniforms, furniture, and other goods for both government and commercial use.
The President emphasized that these programs are more than economic ventures.
“This initiative will not only generate income to sustain the Service but will also equip inmates with practical skills for life after their release,” he said, noting the importance of preparing prisoners for productive lives post-incarceration.
Mahama revealed that the Prisons Service is introducing alternative sentencing for minor and non-violent offences, reviewing bail conditions to reduce undue hardship, and establishing a parole system that rewards good behaviour.
These measures, he explained, aim to reduce overcrowding, support rehabilitation, and facilitate smoother reintegration into society.
