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Parliament considers Community Service Bill to reduce prison congestion
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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
Veteran Nigerian actor and African screen legend, Pete Edochie, has paid a courtesy call on the Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Gold Board (GoldBod), Sammy Gyamfi, during his visit to Ghana.
Edochie is in Ghana to launch the African Legacy Project, which includes a book, documentary film and an African Youth Mentorship Initiative targeting about 500,000 young people across the continent.
Mr. Gyamfi welcomed the opportunity for GoldBod to support the mentorship initiative, noting that it aligns with the Board’s Special Intervention Programme and its focus on social impact and economic empowerment.
GoldBod’s work is also referenced in Pete Edochie’s new book, which highlights Ghana’s efforts to ensure its gold resources contribute to national development.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has warned Ghanaians seeking employment in Zambia to be cautious of fraudulent job offers that could expose them to human trafficking and forced involvement in cybercrime.
The warning follows the arrest of six Ghanaians in Lusaka, Zambia, during a joint operation by the Zambia Police Service, the Drug Enforcement Commission and the Department of Immigration on August 23, 2026.
According to the Ministry, the operation targeted a facility suspected of being involved in organised cybercrime activities and led to the arrest of 79 people, including 10 Zambians and 69 foreign nationals.
The Ministry said six of the foreign nationals arrested were Ghanaians.
It explained that reports received by the Ghana High Commission in Lusaka indicated that some of those arrested had been recruited through what appeared to be legitimate employment opportunities, including online data entry jobs.
However, the Ministry said some were allegedly forced into online scam activities after their passports were confiscated by their employers.
It warned that the situation highlights how human trafficking groups are using fake employment opportunities to lure unsuspecting job seekers into illegal activities.
The Ministry has therefore advised Ghanaians travelling to Zambia or seeking employment there to thoroughly verify job offers, recruitment agencies and prospective employers before travelling.
Ghanaians living in Zambia have also been urged to remain vigilant when responding to online job opportunities and maintain regular contact with the Ghana High Commission in Lusaka for consular assistance when necessary.
The Ministry said the government remains committed to protecting the welfare and interests of Ghanaians travelling to or living outside the country.
By: Jacob Aggrey
