The Chairman of the newly constituted Prisons Service Council, Apostle Alexander Nana Yaw Kumi-Larbi, has underscored the urgent need to prioritise the rehabilitation and mentorship of juvenile offenders, describing them as “young people who, given the right guidance, can become assets to our nation.”
Speaking at a brief inauguration ceremony held on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at the Ministry for the Interior in Accra, Apostle Kumi-Larbi said the Council would work closely with key stakeholders to implement structured mentorship programmes aimed at transforming the lives of young offenders within Ghana’s correctional system.
“Special attention must be paid to our juvenile offenders. These are young people who, given the right guidance and mentorship, can turn their lives around and become assets to our nation,” he stated.
According to him, the Prisons Service Council will explore opportunities to connect young inmates with mentors, coaches, and community leaders who can walk with them on the journey of reformation and reintegration. He stressed that transformation must begin from within and that society must play a proactive role in guiding the youth away from repeat offenses.
Apostle Kumi-Larbi, who also serves as an Executive Council Member of The Church of Pentecost and Ashaiman Area Head, further pledged to advocate for improved prison conditions, officer welfare, and alternative sentencing reforms. He described Ghana’s congested prisons as a growing challenge and called for urgent policy reviews to address infrastructural, logistical, and nutritional needs across the system.
Highlighting examples from international models such as Kenya, where inmates contribute to the economy through factory work, Apostle Kumi-Larbi advocated for similar industrial and vocational initiatives within Ghana’s correctional facilities.
He also acknowledged The Church of Pentecost’s collaborative role with the Ghana Prisons Service, particularly in constructing modern correctional centres that promote rehabilitation and skill acquisition. He said these efforts, grounded in Christian compassion, demonstrate that prisons can be “centres of transformation, learning, and restoration.”
The Prisons Service Council, under Articles 206–208 of the 1992 Constitution, advises the President on policies related to the organisation and welfare of the Ghana Prisons Service. Its responsibilities include regulating service conditions, overseeing officer appointments and promotions, and promoting prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration.
Apostle Kumi-Larbi concluded by calling on civil society, religious bodies, private sector actors, and philanthropists to partner with the Council in creating a humane and reformative correctional system that offers second chances and upholds human dignity.
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