Parliament has passed the Community Service Bill, 2026, introducing community service as an alternative to imprisonment for persons convicted of specified categories of offences.

The new legislation establishes a National Community Service Secretariat and creates the legal framework for implementing non-custodial sentencing, a move aimed at easing congestion in Ghana’s prisons and promoting the rehabilitation of offenders.

The Bill was laid before Parliament by the Minister for the Interior, Mohammed-Mubarak Muntaka, on March 4, 2026, in accordance with Article 106(1) of the 1992 Constitution. It was subsequently referred to Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee for scrutiny before its approval.

According to the committee’s report, Ghana’s criminal justice system has traditionally depended heavily on custodial sentences, resulting in persistent overcrowding in correctional facilities.

The committee noted that the situation has placed considerable pressure on the Ghana Prisons Service while increasing government expenditure on inmate feeding, healthcare, maintenance and prison infrastructure.

It explained that the new law forms part of wider criminal justice reforms being pursued by the Ministry of the Interior to expand the use of non-custodial sentencing options.

The legislation is expected to give courts greater flexibility to impose community service instead of prison sentences for minor and specified offences, while promoting offender rehabilitation, reducing repeat offending and supporting the reintegration of offenders into society.

The committee further indicated that efforts to establish a structured non-custodial sentencing system date back to 2014, when the Ministry of the Interior, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), began developing a national policy on non-custodial sentencing.

The Community Service Act also provides legal backing for existing non-custodial sentencing provisions under the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30), and the Interpretation Act, 2009 (Act 792).

Source:Fiilafmonline/Adomonline

Mr. Tuah-Yeboah, who is part of Hanan’s legal team, criticised the decision to re-arrest his client at the airport over allegations that he attempted to withdraw funds from a frozen bank account.

The claim has been denied by Hanan’s lawyers, who have challenged the Attorney General to provide evidence to support the allegation.

Speaking to Citi  News, Mr. Tuah-Yeboah said the defence team would continue to pursue legal options over what they believe was a breach of a court order and a denial of their client’s rights.

“That’s something that we were up to, but for the bail, there are other outstanding issues, as you indicated, as to how the court order was flouted. That’s a decision that is to be considered. So the fact that you granted bail doesn’t mean that the earlier decision has also been rescinded from our side,” he said.

He also criticised the circumstances surrounding Hanan’s re-arrest, arguing that he was denied access to medical care despite an earlier court arrangement.

“I cannot comment much on that because that’s a purely private matter, but only to say that it was rather unfortunate that the state acting through the security agencies denied him his right to medical care as already agreed by the court,” he added.

The former Deputy Attorney General maintained that the allegation that his client attempted to access funds from the frozen account remains contested and challenged the Attorney General to provide evidence.

Hanan Abdul-Wahab Aludiba and his wife, Faiza Seidu Wuni, have been standing trial since 2025 alongside other individuals and companies over alleged involvement in the purchase and supply of food items under the National School Feeding Programme.

The case involves allegations of financial loss of about GH¢78 million to the state.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, June 18, 2026, Mr Iddrisu said the size of the allocation raises concerns about the sustainability of using GETFund resources to finance school feeding while also meeting the fund’s core obligations, including infrastructure development and support for basic education.

“Currently, the GETFund has allocated 42% of its local budget revenue to school feeding under the Free SHS Programme,” he said.

“What then will be left for infrastructure, basic education, and the others? That is why I have advised that we should realign the financing of GETFund to focus more on basic foundational learning, such as numeracy skills and literacy, which are important for the future learning success of our people.”

The minister suggested that the financing structure of GETFund should be reviewed to ensure greater emphasis on foundational education while preserving resources for infrastructure and other priority areas within the sector.

His comments came during parliamentary discussions on education financing and the long-term sustainability of key government programmes.

Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Atiwa East, Abena Osei-Asare, questioned the use of a significant portion of GETFund resources for school feeding, arguing that it falls outside the fund’s primary mandate.

“If you take 42% of their revenue for the school feeding programme, which is not part of their core mandate, then you ask yourself, how much is put down for infrastructure,” she said.

The debate highlights growing concerns over competing demands on GETFund resources, as policymakers seek to balance funding for Free SHS, school infrastructure, and foundational education initiatives.

GETFund was established to provide dedicated funding for educational development in Ghana, including infrastructure projects, scholarships and other interventions aimed at improving access to quality education.

Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews

Addressing the Government Accountability Series on Monday, June 15, Mr. Kwakye Ofosu disclosed that President John Dramani Mahama had commissioned an investigation into the allegations following concerns raised by the MFWA.

According to him, the Presidency received a report dated April 1, 2026, outlining the concerns and, on April 2, referred the matter to the Senior Presidential Advisor on Governmental Affairs for assessment and investigation.

He explained that the report was subsequently forwarded to the Ministry of Roads and Highways on April 8 for its response. The Ministry submitted its response on April 21, after which a final 72-page report was presented to the President on May 22, 2026.

Mr. Kwakye Ofosu said the full report would be made public in the interest of transparency, but highlighted some of its key findings during the briefing.

According to the report, a total of 1,441 road contracts have been awarded under the current administration through agencies including the Ghana Highways Authority, the Department of Urban Roads, and the Department of Feeder Roads.

Of that number, 1,301 contracts, representing 90.28 per cent, were awarded through open competitive tendering, while 140 contracts were undertaken under the Big Push initiative.

He explained that among the Big Push contracts, 66 were awarded through single sourcing, 51 through restrictive tendering, and 23 were ongoing projects inherited from the previous administration.

Mr. Kwakye Ofosu argued that the figures do not support claims that the ministry had become a “sole source factory.”

“Only 4.58 percent of all contracts awarded were through single sourcing,” he said.

He further stated that the investigation found no evidence of breaches of procurement regulations, noting that all contract awards complied with the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 663 as amended), and received the required approvals from the Public Procurement Authority and other relevant institutions.

According to him, the report found that the use of single sourcing in specific cases was justified by urgent national considerations, including the need for accelerated infrastructure delivery, procurement efficiency, growing public demand for improved road networks, security concerns, and the risk of rising project costs due to inflation.

Mr. Kwakye Ofosu also addressed concerns regarding funding inconsistencies highlighted in the allegations, explaining that the differences stemmed from the existence of multiple financing sources.

These, he said, include the Consolidated Fund, the Road Fund, donor-supported financing arrangements, and the dedicated Big Push Fund established in 2025.

He maintained that competitive tendering remained the dominant procurement method under the road infrastructure programme and dismissed suggestions of widespread abuse of single sourcing or violations of procurement procedures by the Ministry of Roads and Highways.

Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews

The move follows reports by parents and teachers who expressed dissatisfaction with meals being provided to beneficiaries of the programme, sparking public debate about standards and monitoring within one of the country’s flagship social intervention initiatives.

In a statement issued on June 9, 2026, the ministry said it had taken note of the concerns and had commenced a fact-finding exercise in collaboration with the Ghana School Feeding Programme Secretariat to establish the circumstances surrounding the allegations.

The ministry assured the public that the government remained committed to ensuring that all children benefiting from the programme receive adequate, nutritious and quality meals in a safe and conducive learning environment.

“The Ghana School Feeding Programme remains a critical social protection intervention aimed at reducing hunger among school children, improving school enrolment and attendance, and enhancing the nutritional well-being of pupils across the country,” the statement said.

Fact-Finding Mission

According to the ministry, the investigation will determine whether the concerns raised by parents and teachers are justified and identify any lapses in implementation, monitoring or service delivery.

It stressed that appropriate sanctions would be imposed on any individual or organisation found culpable following the outcome of the investigations.

The ministry’s intervention comes amid growing public interest in the effectiveness of the School Feeding Programme, which provides daily meals to hundreds of thousands of pupils in public basic schools across the country.

Education and child welfare advocates have consistently emphasised the importance of the programme in improving access to education, reducing absenteeism and supporting the nutritional needs of children, particularly in deprived communities.

Commitment to Reforms

The ministry reiterated that the government remains focused on strengthening social protection programmes under its broader development agenda and is taking deliberate measures to improve the financing, monitoring and implementation of the School Feeding Programme.

It said ongoing reforms are intended to enhance efficiency, accountability and quality service delivery while safeguarding the integrity of the intervention.

The statement warned that any act or omission that undermines the objectives, standards and credibility of the programme would not be tolerated.

“Government, through its Reset Agenda, continues to take deliberate and concrete steps to strengthen social protection interventions and improve the financing, monitoring and implementation of the Ghana School Feeding Programme to ensure efficiency, accountability and quality service delivery,” the ministry stated.

Call for Collaboration

The ministry further appealed to regional and zonal coordinators, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, community leaders, parents, the media and the general public to support efforts aimed at improving transparency and accountability in the programme.

It encouraged stakeholders to continue working closely with the ministry and the Ghana School Feeding Programme Secretariat in monitoring implementation and ensuring that beneficiary pupils receive the full benefits of the initiative.

The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to protecting the integrity of the School Feeding Programme and ensuring that it continues to serve the best interests of Ghanaian children.

It said government remained resolute in ensuring that the programme contributes meaningfully to children’s growth, development and education while supporting national efforts to improve learning outcomes and social welfare.

The Ghana School Feeding Programme is one of the country’s flagship social protection interventions and has played a key role in increasing school enrolment and attendance, particularly in rural and underserved communities, since its introduction nearly two decades ago.

Source:Fiilafmonline/JoyNews

His comments follow government’s decision on February 12 to reduce the cocoa producer price to GH¢41,392 per tonne, equivalent to GH¢2,587 per bag, for the remainder of the 2025/2026 crop season, a move which has triggered concerns among stakeholders in the sector.

In response to the developments, a Minority Caucus Select Committee was constituted to tour cocoa-growing areas and engage farmers on the ground. The committee, led by Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh-Dompreh, compiled findings and recommendations based on feedback from cocoa farmers.

Speaking during the presentation, Dr. Bawumia said the report would be forwarded to the party’s Policy Committee on Agriculture, Food Security and Agribusiness for technical review and further consultation with experts.

He explained that the committee would be tasked to assess the findings and develop costed policy alternatives aimed at addressing the concerns raised.

“What I am looking at with the presentation of this report is to take this Select Committee report to the Policy Committee on Agriculture, Food Security, and Agribusiness. We are going to ask this committee to technically review the findings, consult experts in the area, and then bring forward costed policy alternatives for us,” he said.

The expected policy alternative is anticipated to form part of broader discussions on stabilising Ghana’s cocoa industry and improving producer conditions.

Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews

“We cannot, you know, spend our money in that manner. The cost approximates for each person to be fed, accommodated, transported, and all that to watch the games, tickets, and all that is estimated at almost $11,000,” he said.

The 2026 tournament, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, presents additional logistical challenges compared to previous editions held in a single country.

Ghana’s Group L matches are scheduled to be played in Toronto, Boston, and Philadelphia, further increasing travel costs for any organised fan programme.

Instead of a state-sponsored travel scheme, Mahama announced a targeted alternative aimed at Ghanaians already living in host cities. According to him, the government will purchase match tickets and distribute them through organised Ghanaian community groups in the diaspora.

“What we are doing is that we are procuring tickets for Ghanaians in the diaspora who want to attend the games. So if you want to attend the game, you will get a ticket to attend the game,” he said.

“We have organised our chapters, our Ghanaian citizens in Boston, Philadelphia, and Canada. The tickets that we have purchased, we will give to them to enable them to watch the matches,” he added.

He urged Ghanaians abroad planning to attend matches to coordinate through recognised community associations to ensure fair access to tickets.

Ghana will be making its fifth World Cup appearance at the tournament, drawn in Group L alongside Panama, England, and Croatia. The Black Stars begin their campaign against Panama on June 17 at BMO Field, before facing England on June 23 at Gillette Stadium and Croatia on June 27.

The team will be aiming to reach the knockout stage for the first time since their historic quarter-final run in 2010.

Source:Fiilasports/ghanasoccernet

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Thursday, May 28, during the presentation of a paper on the passage of the Community Service Bill, the minister said the cost of feeding inmates alone amounts to about GHC10 million every quarter.

“The cost of maintaining them, in fact, feeding them alone, requires GHC10 million a quarter, and so annually we have to feed them with GHC40 million. Mr Speaker, even the GHC40 million, woefully inadequate,” he said.

Mr. Muntaka noted that even the current allocation falls short of providing adequate meals for inmates.

He, however, commended President John Dramani Mahama and the Finance Ministry for increasing the prison feeding ration from GHC1.80 pesewas to GHC5.

“Even with that GHC5, Mr Speaker, we believe that that is woefully inadequate to feed an adult,” he stated.

The Interior Minister compared the prison feeding allocation to the school feeding programme, where caterers receive about GHC4.50 per meal for children in basic schools.

“If you take into consideration school feeding, caterers are giving about 4.50 pesewas for a meal for children in basic schools. Now we give GHC5 for adults for three meals,” he added.

Source:Fiilafmonline/CitiNews

This is according to the Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies, Dr Riverson Oppong.

Speaking to JOYBUSINESS in an interview, he outlined two possible scenarios depending on whether the policy is extended beyond its May 16 expiration date.

Under the first scenario, where government extends the policy, petrol prices are expected to increase by about 2.5% to 3% per litre, potentially pushing a litre of petrol to around GH¢14.50.

Diesel is also projected to rise by about 1.8% per litre, which could take the price to about GH¢16.50.

According to him, “extending the policy will only lower the expected margin of increase at the pumps.”

Under the second scenario, if government fails to extend the intervention, petrol prices could climb to about GH¢15.80 per litre, while diesel could be sold at around GH¢18.05 per litre.

On liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), Dr Oppong said pricing will depend largely on market stock levels.

He also cautioned against linking product imports directly to price reductions, in reference to discussions about importing petroleum products from Nigeria for local refining.

“There should be a clear distinction between product availability and low prices at the pumps,” he warned.

Meanwhile, there are indications of further pressure on global fuel prices following reports that the United States could soon resume strikes on Iran. Crude oil prices have already risen, trading at about $107 per barrel.

The development is likely to feed into domestic inflation pressures in the coming months.

However, institutions such as the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and Fitch Ratings have maintained that Ghana is still expected to end the year with inflation at single-digit levels.

Source:Fiilafmonline/JoyBuss