Omanghana
The Ghana Prisons Service has urged families, employers and communities to support former inmates, warning that social rejection can hinder their reintegration and contribute to reoffending.
Speaking to Adom News, the Service’s Public Relations Officer, CSP Latif Abdul Adamu, said the number of former inmates returning to prison remained relatively low. However, he identified exclusion by relatives, friends and the wider community as a significant obstacle to rebuilding their lives.
His comments followed President John Dramani Mahama’s decision to grant pardons to 863 convicted persons under the presidential prerogative of mercy.
CSP Adamu explained that returning to society can be difficult when former inmates are denied opportunities to resume social and economic activities. He said rejection could weaken the progress made during rehabilitation and leave some struggling to adjust after release.
Employment remains another major challenge. According to him, former inmates often encounter resistance from prospective employers despite acquiring vocational and practical skills while serving their sentences.
He appealed to businesses and the public to provide opportunities that would allow former inmates to earn a living and contribute to their communities.
The concerns come amid wider efforts to strengthen rehabilitation and reduce pressure on Ghana’s prisons. Parliament passed the Community Service Bill in July 2026 to provide an alternative to custodial sentences for eligible minor offences.
The legislation sets out arrangements for supervising and enforcing community service orders, with the aim of reducing overcrowding while allowing offenders to make a constructive contribution to society.
The Service’s appeal highlights the importance of support beyond prison walls, particularly access to work and acceptance within families and communities, in helping former inmates rebuild their lives.
Source: Omanghana
