Rehabilitation of Offenders: Lessons from International Practice for Ghana

By: Her Worship Georgette Carmel Lutterodt, Esq., Her Worship Anastacia Yaa Agyeiwaa Karimu, Esq. and Her Worship Dromo Afarley Djarbeng, Esq.Introduction For many years, imprisonment has largely been understood as an instrument of punishment. The offender commits an offence, is convicted and is sent to prison to serve a prescribed sentence. However, modern correctional policy increasingly recognises that … Continue reading Rehabilitation of Offenders: Lessons from International Practice for Ghana

Beyond Community Service: Ghana’s Need For A Comprehensive Non-Custodial Sentencing Framework

By: Tracy Abena Serwaa Frimpong  Abstract Ghana’s criminal justice framework has long been characterised by imprisonments even for misdemeanours and minor offences. But recently, the Parliament of Ghana has taken a major step through the passage of the Community Service Bill 2026 to introduce community service as an alternative to imprisonment for minor offences. However, … Continue reading Beyond Community Service: Ghana’s Need For A Comprehensive Non-Custodial Sentencing Framework

Penal Reform in Ghana: How the Supreme Court Paved the Way for Community Sentencing

By: Her Worship Georgette Carmel Lutterodt, Esq., Her Worship Anastacia Yaa Agyeiwaa Karimu, Esq. and Her Worship Dromo Afarley Djarbeng, Esq. For many years, Ghana's criminal justice system has relied heavily on custodial sentences, even for offences that could be addressed through alternative forms of punishment. This overreliance on imprisonment has contributed to overcrowded prisons, increased public expenditure, … Continue reading Penal Reform in Ghana: How the Supreme Court Paved the Way for Community Sentencing

The Community Service Bill, 2026: Learning from Experience, Avoiding Excess

By: Her Worship Georgette Carmel Lutterodt, Esq., Her Worship Anastacia Yaa Agyeiwaa Karimu, Esq. and Her Worship Dromo Afarley Djarbeng, Esq. Ghana’s criminal justice system is undergoing a necessary and long-overdue shift. The Community Service Bill, 2026, currently before Parliament, reflects a growing consensus—one that has been echoed in prior discussions and scholarship—that imprisonment should not … Continue reading The Community Service Bill, 2026: Learning from Experience, Avoiding Excess