The Ghana Prisons Service has declared November as Prisons and Corrections Month as part of a new nationwide reform agenda dubbed “Think Prison 360°.”
The campaign, launched in Accra, seeks to shift national attention toward the chronic challenges confronting Ghana’s correctional system and to reposition prisons as centres of rehabilitation rather than mere confinement.
Speaking at the launch at the Prisons Headquarters, the Director-General of Prisons, Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, Esq., said the initiative marks a renewed commitment to addressing long-standing problems such as overcrowding, weak rehabilitation structures, and reintegration pressures.
“November offers a natural moment for national reflection. We see it as the right time to take stock of where our correctional system stands, renew our commitment to reform, and mobilise broad public support,” she said.
She noted that many facilities are operating far beyond their original capacity, with some holding more than double the number of inmates they were designed for.
“Our congestion levels remain alarming. Coupled with aging infrastructure and inadequate funding, these conditions limit our ability to deliver effective rehabilitation,” the Director General added.
According to the Prisons Service, the Think Prison 360° campaign aims to broaden the nation’s understanding of the purpose of correctional systems. Officials emphasise that prisons must be viewed as spaces for transformation through skills training, education, and structured rehabilitation programmes to reduce recidivism and strengthen public safety.
Delivering the keynote address, Chairman of the Prisons Service Council, Apostle (Ing.) Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, appealed to employers across the country to open their doors to ex-inmates and offer them employment opportunities.
As part of the launch, the Service mounted an exhibition showcasing products and creative works made by inmates, highlighting the potential of vocational and skills-based rehabilitation.
Officials say dedicating November to prisons and corrections will help sustain public awareness and spark long-term changes within Ghana’s correctional landscape.
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