Chief Justice nominee pushes for prison reforms to tackle overcrowding
By DL News
Published
1 min read
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, November 10, 2025, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie described the current state of Ghana’s prisons as “deeply troubling."
Ghana’s Chief Justice nominee, Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, has called for sweeping reforms to ease congestion in the country’s overcrowded prisons, including the introduction of community service sentences, a parole system, and the revival of the Justice for All programme.
Speaking during his vetting before Parliament’s Appointments Committee on Monday, November 10, 2025, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie described the current state of Ghana’s prisons as “deeply troubling,” citing severe overcrowding in facilities such as Nsawam and Kumasi.
“Nsawam Prison was built for 851 inmates, but it currently holds about 3,562. Kumasi Prison, designed for 416, now accommodates 1,727. This pattern is repeated across the country — our prisons are choked, and that is a serious concern,” he told the committee.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie linked the overcrowding crisis to indiscriminate remand practices and lengthy sentences, urging Parliament to act swiftly to adopt non-custodial sentencing options.
“Many people are languishing in prison simply because they cannot meet bail conditions,” he said. “Community service and parole systems would allow us to decongest prisons while still promoting rehabilitation.”
He said the judiciary was ready to work with Parliament to operationalise existing legal provisions that allow for such reforms.
The nominee also pledged to revive the Justice for All programme, a judicial initiative launched in 2007 to expedite the review of remand cases and prevent unjustified detention.
“We can bring back the Justice for All initiative to clear the backlog of remand cases and ensure a more humane system of justice,” he said.
Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s proposals form part of a wider plan to modernise Ghana’s justice system, reduce congestion, and promote fairness in sentencing.
His vetting comes amid renewed public debate following the removal of former Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Esaaba Sackey Torkornoo, a process that has triggered legal challenges and national discussion about judicial independence.
If approved, Justice Baffoe-Bonnie’s agenda could mark a decisive shift toward a rehabilitative, rights-based approach to criminal justice in Ghana.
