Over 1,500 inmates in Ghana’s prison facilities have engaged in formal education programs, with many achieving a 100 percent pass rate, as reported by the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Mrs. Patience Baffoe-Bonnie (Esq.).
These statistics were included in a statement released to commemorate Nelson Mandela International Day, which is celebrated annually on July 18.
Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie emphasized that enhancing access to education is a fundamental aspect of the Ghana Prisons Service’s rehabilitation strategy, designed to provide inmates with the knowledge and skills necessary for successful reintegration into society.
“Through collaborations with stakeholders such as the Ghana Education Service and educational institutions, the Service has expanded access to education within the prisons,” the Director-General stated in the announcement shared on social media.
The statement indicated that more than 1,500 adult and juvenile inmates have enrolled in Junior High and Senior High School programs across various prison facilities from 2019 to 2026, with many achieving a 100 percent pass rate.
The Director-General also underscored initiatives to broaden access to tertiary education for inmates through collaborations with higher education institutions.
“On the educational front, over 700 inmates have benefitted from formal education and have been certified to pursue further studies through partnerships with tertiary institutions such as the University of Cape Coast, Accra Metropolitan University and Pentecost University, among others, with scholarships,” the statement noted.
Mrs. Baffoe-Bonnie clarified that the educational programs are part of the Service’s comprehensive Think Prisons 360 Degrees Initiative, which aims to transform prisons from mere custodial facilities into centers of rehabilitation, education, and skills development.
“These efforts are aimed at equipping inmates with the necessary knowledge, skills, and values to become responsible, productive, and law-abiding citizens,” the statement noted.
The Ghana Prisons Service further expressed its commitment to ensuring that inmates leave prison not as outcasts, but as educated, skilled and productive citizens capable of making meaningful contributions to national development.
