Mahama Pledges to Complete 800-Bed Nsawam Prison, Announces Sweeping Reforms
Accra, Ghana —President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled a bold new prison reform agenda aimed at restoring dignity to inmates and transforming Ghana’s correctional system into a model of rehabilitation, productivity, and human rights.
The President, addressing a national stakeholder forum on criminal justice and correctional reform, said the initiative rests on a “fundamental belief that no Ghanaian should be stripped of their humanity, even when they are in prison.”
President Mahama outlined several far-reaching policies designed to modernize the country’s penal system and align it with global best practices. The government will expand the use of alternative sentencing for minor and non-violent offenses, reduce overcrowding, and prevent unnecessary incarceration. Bail conditions will also be reviewed to avoid undue hardship on the poor. A new parole framework will allow well-behaved inmates to earn early release, accelerating their reintegration into society. The move, according to the President, will “reward discipline, restore hope, and rebuild lives.”
Mahama confirmed the completion of the 800-inmate capacity remand prison at Nsawam, originally launched in 2016 but left abandoned. He also announced plans for modern correctional centers for men, women, and juveniles nationwide. The government is enhancing the conditions of service for prison officers, upgrading security systems, and improving sanitation and healthcare for inmates.
A central feature of the new reforms is the integration of the Ghana Prison Service into the 24-Hour Economy initiative. “The Ghana Prison Service will actively contribute to the 24-Hour Economy by running prison industries around the clock,” President Mahama said.
These industries will include sewing school uniforms, manufacturing furniture and agro-processing and food production.
The dual purpose, he explained, is to generate sustainable income for the service and equip inmates with employable skills to ease their transition after release. “This will not only sustain the service but also give inmates practical skills for life after prison,” Mahama added.
Inmates will also be involved in large-scale agricultural projects, including poultry, vegetable, and cash-crop production.
The government is providing tractors, fertilizer, and mechanized equipment to enhance productivity across prison farms over the next three years. “We are empowering the Prison Service to farm on a large scale with the right tools and inputs so that our correctional institutions become productive and self-reliant,” Mahama stated.
Ghana’s prisons have long struggled with overcrowding, poor sanitation, and limited rehabilitation programs. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and local human rights organizations have repeatedly called for systemic reforms.
The Mahama administration’s new framework directly responds to these concerns, signaling a broader commitment to justice reform and human dignity under his governance.
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