Political science lecturer at the University of Ghana, Dr Asah-Asante, has called for urgent reforms to allow transformed prisoners who have pursued education behind bars to participate in Ghana’s mandatory national service.

Dr Asah-Asante questioned the rationale behind excluding such individuals from national service, despite efforts to improve themselves through education.

He said this on JoyNews’ AM Show on May 21, 2025, stating that they should not be denied the opportunity to undertake their national service which will help them reintegrate into society much easier

“Why would prisoners be allowed to educate themselves and, after completion, be denied the opportunity to undertake national service? Once they have been able to go through the process successfully, there should be a system in place to shepherd them into national service,” he said.

He argued that the objective of the prison system is not just to punish, but also to reform and reintegrate inmates into society.

He described the current situation as counterproductive and called for coordinated efforts to address the issue.

“This should not be a problem. The leadership of the Prison Service should liaise with the National Identification Authority to ensure that all necessary documentation and processes are completed for reformed prisoners. This issue should be a thing of the past,” he indicated.

He stressed the importance of inclusion, stressing that the denial of national service opportunities could further stigmatise ex-convicts and hinder their reintegration into society.

“Prisons are supposed to transform people, improve their wellbeing, and prepare them to return to society. Allowing them to complete their national service is a key step in that process,” he added.

MRA/VPO

After the heavy rains over the weekend, a lot of debris have been left across many parts of Accra. Watch some of the destructions below: