The Committee on Defence and Interior has met with officials from the Ministry of the Interior, the Kofi Annan International Peacekeeping Training Centre, the Prisons Service, the Fire Service, and the Gaming Commission to deliberate on the Community Service Bill 2026, alongside the 2024 Audit Committee’s annual report on the Ministry and its agencies.
In his opening remarks, Interior Minister Muntaka Mubarak explained that the bill seeks to decongest prisons nationwide, reduce the cost of inmate maintenance and feeding, and lower recidivism rates.
The proposed legislation applies to offences punishable by a term of imprisonment of not more than three years, with or without a fine, and stipulates that offenders will work for no more than eight hours a day. A roundtable discussion allowed participants to share perspectives and contribute to the deliberations.
Committee Chairman Hon. James Agalga and Ranking Member Hon. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour called for the bill to be fast-tracked for swift implementation, stressing the importance of ensuring it does not impose a financial burden, thereby facilitating effective execution.
The Committee will continue its sitting through Friday, 17 April 2026, as it works toward shaping a framework that balances justice with rehabilitation.
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