News
Parliament considers Community Service Bill to reduce prison congestion
The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior has begun deliberations on the proposed Community Service Bill 2026, aimed at addressing prison overcrowding and reducing the cost of maintaining inmates.
The Committee met with officials from the Ministry of the Interior, the Kofi Annan Peacekeeping Training Centre, the Ghana Prisons Service, the Ghana National Fire Service, and the Gaming Commission on Tuesday.
The meeting also reviewed the 2024 Audit Committee’s annual report on the Ministry and its agencies.
During the meeting, the Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mubarak, said the bill is designed to decongest prisons across the country, reduce government spending on feeding and maintaining inmates, and lower reoffending rates.
He explained that the proposed law will apply to offences punishable by a prison term of not more than three years, with or without a fine.
Under the bill, offenders may be required to undertake community service for not more than eight hours a day instead of serving time in prison.
A roundtable discussion was held during the meeting, allowing stakeholders to share their views and contribute to the ongoing deliberations.
The Chairman of the Committee, James Agalga, and the Ranking Member, Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, both called for the bill to be fast-tracked.
They stressed the need to ensure that its implementation does not create an additional financial burden on the state.
The Committee is expected to continue its sittings until Friday, April 17, 2026, as it works towards finalising its recommendations on the bill.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The 24 Hour Economy Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Hunan Architectural Design Institute Group to support the planning of the Volta Economic Corridor.
The agreement aims to guide how land within the corridor will be used, design key infrastructure, and develop systems that will support large scale production.
The partnership will focus on detailed planning to make the area ready for investment and smooth business operations.
The project will include the development of agroecological parks, industrial zones, and transport networks to connect production centres to markets.
According to the Authority, proper planning is critical to building strong economic systems and expanding production across the corridor.
It noted that the collaboration with the Chinese design firm will help lay a solid foundation for industrial growth and long term development within the Volta Economic Corridor.
By: Jacob Aggrey
President of the Ghana Bar Association, Efua Ghartey, has called on judges and lawyers to carry out their duties with humility, fairness, and a strong sense of responsibility.
She made the appeal during the Supreme Court at 150 celebration held at the University of Ghana, under the theme “Honouring the past, celebrating the present and defining the future.”
Addressing participants, she noted that those in the legal profession occupy positions of great power and influence, and must therefore remain humble in the discharge of their duties.
She urged both the bench and the bar to deliver justice without fear or ill will, stressing the need for fairness in handling cases.
Reflecting on the significance of the celebration, she explained that the year 1876 marks not only the establishment of the Supreme Court but also the beginning of formally trained lawyers in the Gold Coast.
The GBA President questioned what Ghana would be without the rule of law, which is upheld by judges and lawyers, adding that the country could descend into a system where only the strongest survive if justice is not properly administered.
She further encouraged legal practitioners to reflect on their responsibilities and remain committed to upholding the rule of law for the benefit of all citizens.
By: Jacob Aggrey
