Give ex-convicts a second chance – Ghana Prisons Service calls for National Reintegration Policy

Leaving prison should offer former inmates an opportunity to rebuild their lives, but for many in Ghana, finding employment and gaining acceptance in society remain major challenges.

The Ghana Prisons Service says these difficulties often leave formerly incarcerated persons struggling to make a fresh start, even after completing their sentences.

It is therefore calling for the introduction of a comprehensive National Reintegration Policy to help former inmates secure employment, overcome discrimination and successfully return to their communities.

The Service believes that rehabilitation should not end when a person leaves prison. Instead, it should be supported by practical measures that enable former inmates to become productive members of society.

The call was made during the maiden National Ex-Convicts Conference organised by the Crime Check Foundation at the GNAT Hall in Accra on Wednesday, November 4, 2026.

Speaking on behalf of the Ghana Prisons Service, the Director of Prisons in Charge of Operations and Facility Management, Benedict Bob-Dery, identified unemployment, social stigma and discrimination as some of the biggest challenges confronting former prisoners.

He explained that although efforts are made to rehabilitate inmates while they are in custody, those efforts may be undermined when they return to communities where they are denied opportunities because of their criminal records.

Mr Bob-Dery stressed the need for government, employers, families and community leaders to work together to create an environment in which former inmates can rebuild their lives.

He maintained that access to employment and continued support after release could help reduce reoffending and contribute to public safety.

The Chairman of the Prisons Service Council, Apostle Ing. Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, also urged society to reconsider how it treats people who have served prison sentences.

He emphasised that a criminal conviction should not permanently deny an individual the opportunity to work, contribute to society or lead a productive life.

He encouraged stakeholders to support the Ghana Prisons Service's Think Prisons 360 Degrees Agenda and the Employing the Returning Citizen Campaign, which seek to strengthen rehabilitation and create opportunities for persons leaving prison.

The conference also provided a platform for former inmates to share their experiences of life after incarceration.

Some participants recounted how their attempts to secure jobs and reintegrate into their communities had been affected by prejudice and social rejection.

They appealed to employers and the wider public to judge them by their willingness to change rather than solely by their past offences.

Held under the theme, “Rebuilding Life After Prison: Effective Reintegration for a Better Society,” the conference brought together correctional officials, former inmates and other stakeholders to discuss ways of improving reintegration in Ghana.

Among those present was former Director-General of Prisons Isaac Kofi Egyir, alongside senior officers of the Ghana Prisons Service.

The Service reaffirmed its commitment to rehabilitation and reintegration, stressing that its responsibilities extend beyond keeping convicted persons in lawful custody.

It maintained that a coordinated national approach involving public institutions, businesses and communities would provide former inmates with a better opportunity to start again.

For the Prisons Service, the goal is not simply to ensure that individuals complete their sentences, but to help them return to society with a realistic chance of rebuilding their lives.