Ghana

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CountryGhana
Ministry responsible
Ministry of the Interior
Prison administration
Ghana Prisons Service
Contact address
Prisons Headquarters, PO Box 129, Accra, Ghana
Telephone
+233 0302 777 830, +233 0302 777 052 or +233 0302 760 093
Fax
+233 21 772865
Website
http://www.ghanaprisons.gov.gh/
Email
info@ghanaprisons.gov.gh
Head of prison administration (and title)
Isaac Egyir
Director General
Prison population total (including pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners)
14 361
at 7.10.2024 (national prison administration)
Prison population rate (per 100,000 of national population)
42
based on an estimated national population of 33.92 million at October 2024 (from United Nations figures)
Pre-trial detainees / remand prisoners (percentage of prison population)
10.5%
(7.10.2024)
Female prisoners (percentage of prison population)
1.4%
(7.10.2024)
Juveniles / minors / young prisoners incl. definition (percentage of prison population)
1.4%
(7.10.2024 - under 18)
Foreign prisoners (percentage of prison population)
6.6%
(7.10.2024)
Number of establishments / institutions
46
(2022)
Official capacity of prison system
10 265
(7.10.2024)
Occupancy level (based on official capacity)
139.9%
(7.10.2024)
Prison population trend
(year, prison population total, prison population rate)
2000 9,507 51
2002 11,390 58
2004 11,581 56
2006 12,847 59
2008 14,128 61
2010 13,507 56
2012 13,487 53
2014 14,599 55
2016 14,368 52
2018 14,467 50
2020 13,333 43
2000 9,507 51
2002 11,390 58
2004 11,581 56
2006 12,847 59
2008 14,128 61
2010 13,507 56
2012 13,487 53
2014 14,599 55
2016 14,368 52
2018 14,467 50
2020 13,333 43

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Pre-trial/remand prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the recent trend in the pre-trial/remand prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that pre-trial/remand prisoners constituted on that day.  

The final column shows the pre-trial/remand population rate per 100,000 of the national population. 

                                                GHANA

Year

Number in
pre-trial/remand
imprisonment

Percentage
of total
prison population

Pre-trial/remand
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2001
2005
2010
2015
2019

c. 2,183
3,607
c. 3,377
2,423
1,848

20.9%
28.8%
25.0%
16.9%
12.2%

11
17
14
9
6

2024

1,510

10.5%

4

It should be noted that the number of pre-trial/remand prisoners fluctuates from day to day, month to month and year to year. Consequently the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The pre-trial/remand population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities. 

Female prison population: trend

The table below gives an indication of the trend in the female prison population. The final row shows the latest figures available.

It consists of the number of female prisoners in the prison population on a single date in the year (or the annual average) and the percentage of the total prison population that female prisoners constituted on that day. 

The final column shows the female prison population rate per 100,000 of the national population.

                                                  GHANA

Year

Number of
female
prisoners

Percentage
of total
prison population

Female prison
population rate
(per 100,000 of
national population)

2000
2005
2010
2015
2019

143
257
187
199
188

1.5%
2.1%
1.4%
1.4%
1.2%

0.7
1.2
0.8
0.7
0.6

2024

205

1.4%

0.6

The number of female prisoners fluctuates and so the above figures give an indication of the trend but the picture is inevitably incomplete.

The female prison population rate is calculated on the basis of the national population total. All national population figures are inevitably estimates but the estimates used in the World Prison Brief are based on official national figures, United Nations figures or figures from other recognised international authorities.

(If the rate were calculated on the basis of the number of females in the national population it would of course be approximately double the figure in the final column).

Prison population total
Prison population rate