Ghana’s prisons 23% over-congested with about 13,000 inmates – Patience Baffoe-Bonnie

The Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, has revealed that prison facilities across the country are currently operating at 23 per cent above their authorised capacity, with an inmate population of approximately 13,000.

Speaking during a working visit to the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC) in Accra on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie explained that the Service is implementing a number of strategies to address congestion across Ghana’s 49 prison establishments.

According to her, inmate transfers remain one of the key measures being used to ease pressure on overcrowded facilities. While some prisons continue to face high inmate populations, others have available space, allowing the Service to redistribute prisoners and maintain a more balanced occupancy level.

Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie also highlighted the impact of the Justice for All Programme, which brings together key institutions within the justice sector, including the Police Service, Judiciary, Legal Aid Commission, and the Attorney-General’s Department. Through periodic visits to prisons nationwide, these institutions review the cases of remand prisoners and other inmates, helping to identify individuals whose cases have stalled or who have remained in custody beyond their lawful warrants.

She noted that the programme has contributed significantly to reducing congestion by facilitating the release of eligible inmates. In addition, philanthropic individuals and organisations have supported decongestion efforts by paying court-imposed fines for prisoners who remain incarcerated solely because they are unable to afford them.

The Director-General, who is the first woman to lead the Ghana Prisons Service, stated that the current overcrowding rate marks a substantial improvement compared to previous years. At one point, prison congestion exceeded 45 per cent, with more than 15,000 inmates occupying facilities designed to hold 10,265 people.

As part of efforts to deepen public understanding of the prison system, Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie announced the launch of the “Think Prisons 360 Degrees” initiative. The programme seeks to open the prisons to the public, demystify prison life, and encourage national support for inmate rehabilitation and reintegration.

She explained that the initiative would provide the media, stakeholders, and the general public with direct insight into prison conditions and ongoing reforms within the Service.

Among the reforms highlighted were the expansion of prison farms, which currently supply more than 40 per cent of inmates’ daily food requirements, the strengthening of educational and vocational training programmes, and the establishment of additional camp prisons aimed at reducing congestion while promoting rehabilitation.

Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie expressed optimism that continued collaboration among justice sector institutions, civil society organisations, and the public would further improve conditions within Ghana’s prisons and enhance efforts to reform and reintegrate inmates into society.