By Morkporkpor Anku, GNA
Accra, July 12, GNA – Alhaji Ibrahim Oppong Kwarteng, the Executive Director of Crime Check Foundation (CCF), has welcomed the passage of the Community Sentencing Bill, 2026, describing it as a landmark reform to reduce prison congestion and strengthen justice.
He commended the Government and Parliament for the passage of the Bill on Wednesday, July 8, saying it marked the culmination of years of advocacy by the Foundation and other stakeholders for the introduction of a non-custodial sentencing regime.
Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, Alhaji Kwarteng said the absence of a comprehensive non-custodial sentencing law had contributed significantly to congestion in the country’s 47 prison facilities.
“We are thrilled and happy with the passage of the Community Service Bill into law. This is something we have championed over the years because of the absence of a non-custodial law and the congestion it created in our prisons,” he said.
Alhaji Kwarteng noted that the Foundation had engaged successive governments, Parliament, and other stakeholders through advocacy campaigns, press conferences and policy engagements to push for the enactment of the legislation.
Although the Foundation was yet to study the full contents of the law, it anticipated that its implementation would provide an opportunity for criminal justice institutions to educate the public on the objectives and benefits of community sentencing, he said.
The CCF Executive Director explained that beyond reducing prison overcrowding, the new law would enable offenders convicted of minor offences to undertake community service, thereby contributing meaningfully to national development.
He noted that Community Service could help in environmental sanitation, disaster response, agriculture and other public works, reducing government’s expenditure on certain forms of labour while ensuring offenders made positive contributions to society.
Referring to the recent floods in parts of the country, he said persons sentenced to community service could be mobilised to support clean-up exercises, environmental restoration and other community development initiatives.
Describing the legislation as a “game-changer,” Alhaji Kwarteng said its success, however, would depend on government’s commitment to implementation, adequate funding and effective coordination among stakeholders within the criminal justice system.
He acknowledged concerns about monitoring offenders under the new regime but expressed confidence that an effective tracking and supervision system could be established.
Drawing on the Foundation’s experience in implementing the Case Tracking System under the USAID Justice Sector Support Activity, he said Ghana had the capacity to successfully implement the new law if the necessary political will and resources were provided.
He urged the Government to close any implementation gaps, allocate adequate resources and ensure that proper monitoring mechanisms were put in place to prevent abuse of the system.
“Implementation has always been the challenge with many laws in this country. Government must demonstrate commitment by providing the needed resources because, ultimately, it is the nation that will benefit,” he said.
Alhaji Kwarteng assured the Government of the Foundation’s readiness to support public education, stakeholder engagement and other activities aimed at ensuring the successful implementation of the Act.
He said the Foundation remained committed to working with state institutions and civil society organisations to promote criminal justice reforms that advanced rehabilitation, reduced recidivism and strengthened public confidence in the justice system.
The passing of the Community Service Bill is a landmark development that shifts Ghana’s criminal justice system from a purely punitive model towards restorative and rehabilitative justice.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
Reporter: Morkporkpor Anku
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