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‘Community service sentencing will decongest prisons’
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A one-day sensitisation workshop for key stakeholders on community sentencing in Ghana has taken place at Takoradi in the Western Region.
The key stakeholders are traditional authority, assembly members, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), People with Disabilities (PWDs), the legal department, and the security agencies among others.
The main objective was to seek their views on community sentencing as a better correctional method compared with custodial sentencing.
The Paralegal and Education Officer at the Sekondi Prisons, Superintendent of Prisons), Mr. Ibrahim Yakubu, in his delivery said the prisons were correctional places but not a place of punishment as some people thought.
He said the prisons rather consumed without producing anything and the amount spent on each prisoner was woefully inadequate therefore community sentencing would reduce government expenditure in prisons in the country.
He said if community sentencing became part of the law and implemented, it would decongest the prisons and money which was spent on prisoners would be channelled into other development projects.
He said the prisons did not have enough equipment like sewing machines, machines for making footwear, dryers for hairdressers among others, so if the number in the prisons were reduced, the few machines available would pave the way for active and proper learning teaching at the skills training workshops for inmates.
Supt. Yakubu admitted that the prisons in Ghana were overcrowded because minor and less risky offenders were given custodial sentences with few fine payment options unlike countries like Rwanda, Burkina Faso and others where minor cases were given community sentence.
He said it was long overdue for Ghana to consider passing laws to include Non-custodial sentencing to community sentencing in the justice delivery systemin order to decongest the already overcrowded prisons.
A Director at the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI), Africa Office, Miss Mina Mensah, said there were many advantages because a convict would work in his or her own community and the young convicts would would not stop their education because they could work and still go to school.
She noted that people went to prison because there was no other means of sentencing and the society did not allow any integration so convicts were forced to go back to commit crimes in order to remain in prison.
The Programme Manager of CHRI, Madam Esther Poku-Atuahene said the Community Service Bill was a better alternative to custodial sentencing because it would benefit the community and the nation at large.
She mentioned cleaning, collection of rubbish, redecorating community spaces where the community used as public gathering areas as some of community sentencing.#
From Peter Gbambila, Takoradi
Lawyers for former NAFCO Chief Executive Officer, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, say they will file an appeal despite a High Court directive for the Attorney General to amend two counts of defrauding by false pretences in the ongoing case.
The court on Wednesday ordered the AG to amend the two charges in the case involving the former NAFCO CEO and co-accused, Faiza Seidu Wuni.
Reacting to the ruling, counsel for Hanan Aludiba, Godfred Yeboah Dame, expressed dissatisfaction with the decision.
“Even though they’ve been ordered to amend some of the charges, we’ll still file an appeal. I think the decision was not so sound,” he said.
The case is part of ongoing prosecutions linked to alleged financial irregularities at the National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO).
The High Court’s directive means the prosecution will have to revise aspects of the charge sheet before the trial proceeds further.
Background
Counsel for former NAFCO CEO Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, led by Godfred Yeboah Dame, filed an application seeking to have the charges against their client dismissed.
They contend the charges are fundamentally flawed and violate his right to a fair trial.
The State, represented by Deputy Attorney General Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, opposed the application, maintaining that the charges are valid and that the accused ought to face trial.
Lawyers for Hanan’s wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, led by Augustine Obour, who would also benefit if the application succeeded, yielded their time to the lead counsel for the first accused.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
News
High Court rejects dismissal request in NAFCO Case, orders prosecution to amend 2 of 16 Charges Against former CEO
The High Court has declined a request by lead counsel for former National Food Buffer Stock Company (NAFCO) Chief Executive Officer, Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba, to dismiss charges against him, but has directed the Attorney General to amend two of the 16 counts filed against him.
Presiding Judge, Justice Francis Apangabonu Achibonga, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court judge, ruled today that while the prosecution must revise Counts 9 and 14, the trial will proceed on all charges.
This means the trial of the couple will continue on a combined 20 counts.
Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba is facing 16 counts, while his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, is facing 4 counts. Both pleaded not guilty on May 18, 2026 and are currently on bail.
Godfred Yeboah Dame, former Attorney General and lead counsel for the first accused, had argued for the dismissal of the charges. Reacting after the ruling, he said the decision was not sound and indicated plans to file an appeal.
“Even though they’ve been ordered to amend some of the charges, we’ll still file an appeal. I think the decision was not so sound,” he stated.
Augustines Obuor is lead counsel for the second accused, Faiza Seidu Wuni, whiles the Republic was represented by Dr. Justice Srem-Sai, Deputy Attorney General.
The case relates to alleged financial irregularities at NAFCO and is being closely watched as part of government’s efforts to hold public officials accountable.
The court has directed the prosecution to effect the amendments to Counts 9 and 14 before the trial proceeds further.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
