A wave of optimism swept through Ghana’s prison system following the Ministry of the Interior’s announcement of a new initiative that connects good behaviour with opportunities for sentence reduction.
The scheme, unveiled by Minister of the Interior Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, aims to transform the nation’s correctional facilities into hubs for rehabilitation, skill-building, and productive work.
At a ceremonial signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Education on January 14, 2026, Minister Mubarak outlined how the program will allow inmates to participate in the manufacturing of essential goods for public schools. Under the initiative, prisoners will produce school furniture, uniforms, and sanitary pads, directly supporting local education while acquiring practical skills for reintegration into society.
Integral to the project’s design is the promise of sentence reduction for well-behaved inmates. Minister Mubarak explained that under the proposed Community Service Bill, now before Parliament, inmates who diligently participate in prison industries for a year may see their sentences shortened by three months. “So, instead of doing one year, you will do nine months,” he stated, emphasizing the reformative spirit behind the program.
The government hopes this pioneering approach will encourage positive behaviour, equip inmates with valuable skills, and contribute to national development, all while offering a new path to justice and rehabilitation in Ghana’s correctional system.
