A delegation from the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has commended Ghana’s prison education system, which allows inmates to pursue academic and vocational training while serving their sentences.
The delegation, led by Commissioner Janet Ramatoulie Sallah-Njie, who is responsible for the promotion of human rights in Ghana and serves as Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Women in Africa, made the remarks during a courtesy call on the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, in Accra.
The meeting focused on critical issues affecting the prison system, including overcrowding, feeding challenges, and alternative sentencing reforms.
Interior Minister Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak assured the delegation that the government is addressing key concerns.
He disclosed that the daily feeding grant for prisoners has been increased from GH¢1.80 to GH¢5, following directives from the President.
He also highlighted a collaboration between the Ghana Prisons Service and the Ministry of Food and Agriculture under the Feed Ghana project, which is supplementing food supplies for inmates.
On overcrowding, he revealed that the government is working on a Community Sentencing Bill to introduce alternatives such as community service, aimed at reducing prison populations.
The delegation, which also included Commissioner Hatem Essaiem, Chairperson of the Committee on the Prevention of Torture in Africa, and Commissioner Maria Teresa Manuela, Special Rapporteur on Prisons, Conditions of Detention and Policing in Africa, praised Ghana’s efforts and expressed optimism about the proposed reforms.