Ghana is a Sub-Saharan African country
Population: 23.8 Millions (2009), 24 Millions (2010)
GDP: 26.2 Billions USD
Government: constitutional democracy
State of civil and political rights: Free
Constitution: 28 April 1992
Legal System: based on English law and customary law
Legislative System: unicameral Parliament
Judicial System: Supreme Court
Religion: Christian 68.8%, Muslim 15.9%, traditional 8.5%, other 0.7%, none 6.1%
Regions: Ashanti Region, Brong Ahafo Region, Central Region, Eastern Region, Greater Accra Region, Northern Region, Upper East Region, Upper West Region, Volta Region, Western Region.
The Ghana Prison Service (now) the Ghana Correctional Service: the Chapter Sixteen (16) of the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana.
International Treaties on the Death Penalty and Human Rights:
• International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights
• 1st Optional Protocol to the Covenant
• Convention on the Rights of the Child
• Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment
• African Charter on Human and Peoples' Rights
• Statute of the International Criminal Court (which excludes the death penalty)
Ghana CURE
Ghana CURE is a Chapter of International CURE. CURE (Citizens United for Rehabilitations of Errants) is an International organization that seeks to reduce crime through the Reform of Criminal Justice System.
The Ghana chapter of CURE, Ghana CURE, started after an international conference and two week training seminar workshop in Abidjan, Cote d’ Ivoire, under the aegis of L’Ami Fidele and international CURE (USA) IN August 2007 (4-17).
Before the pitiful, inhumane, miserable and infernal conditions relating to the prisons and prisoners all over the world in general, International CURE (USA) formally made its representation in our continent for a Reform of the Criminal Justice System.
Aware of the necessity to unite in brotherhood so as to contribute efficiently to the reduction of crimes and concerned about the improvement of the prisoners living standard in Ghana Prisons, the citizens of all social sides volunteered to setup a charitable organization in accordance with the disposition of the Ghana state law relative to the associations to defend the objectives of International CURE all over the world.
Ghana CURE is non-political and non-governmental. As a humanitarian organization its members are all strictly volunteers.
The Goals of Ghana CURE
The organization aims for the improvement of the living standard of the inmates within the incarceration centers.
The primary goals of Ghana CURE are:
1. To ensure that people in prison are given every opportunity they need to change their lives.
2. To promote the use of alternative sentencing to incarceration. Some of these alternatives include:
restorative justice practices, community service, parole, and work release.
3. To ensure that ex-prisoners are properly rehabilitated and reintegrated into society. Family contacts through visits, letters, phone calls, educational and trade training, are some of the ways to prisoner rehabilitation and reintegration.
4. Reduction of pre-trial detention through a bail system, mediation to resolve issues, and prompt, fair trials.
5. Adequate defence representation for those accused of committing a crime.
6. Separation of juveniles, women and adults who are detained or incarcerated.
7. Struggle against overcrowding and solitary confinement within prisons by facilities rehabilitation.
8. Greater use of alternatives to incarceration. These would include restitution, treatment, community service, day fines etc.
9. Work against the Death Penalty
10. Safe and humane conditions in prisons and detention facilities.
11. Adequate health care for those who are detained or incarcerated.
12. Policies that support family needs, such as visiting, mail and telephone contact.
13. Adequate training for those working in prisons.
14. Promotion of post-release programs in diverse field of vocational activities.
15. Establishment of an efficient moral and religious education of the inmates through the Gospel to help them having good behaviour and serving in uprightness and in dignity their families and the Ghana nation after their release from prisons.