Parliament has passed a new law to introduce community service as an alternative to prison custody for certain minor, non-violent offences.
The Community Service Bill is expected to reduce overcrowding in Ghana’s prisons by allowing courts to sentence eligible offenders to supervised community work instead of short custodial terms.
The reform forms part of efforts to modernise Ghana’s criminal justice system, promote rehabilitation, and cut the cost of incarceration.
Once it receives presidential assent and comes into force, authorities say the law will help hold offenders accountable while supporting their reintegration into society, without compromising public safety.
Read the full Report of the Committee on Defence and Interior on the Community Service Bill, 2026.
