This workshop, taking place in Koforidua, aims to equip these officers with essential knowledge and skills to utilize paralegals in increasing legal assistance for inmates, thereby expanding access to justice.

The training is centred on the theme: "Strengthening Legal Aid Delivery for Improved Access to Justice for the Poor and Vulnerable in Ghana" and is funded by the International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL).

During the workshop, Ms. Jennifer Asuako, a UNDP Programme Analyst, who specialized in gender and human rights, addressed the participants, emphasizing that access to justice was a fundamental right that should be available to all individuals, regardless of their social status.
She noted that many people were unaware of their rights or were unable to advocate for their rights due to their vulnerable circumstances and highlighted the plight of the poor and vulnerable who encounter legal problems without appropriate legal representation.

These individuals are often subjected to illegal interrogation methods, torture, coerced confessions, and prolonged pre- trial detention, leading to wrongful convictions.

Therefore, the training is carefully designed to empower the prison officers to better assist inmates, ultimately contributing to a more equitable justice system in Ghana.

Ms. Asuako indicated that the UNDP since 2017, had been working with the Legal Aid Commission to lay a solid foundation for the use of paralegals for legal aid delivery.
She explained that UNDP started with a policy dialogue on the use of paralegals, which sought representatives from Sierra Leone and Malawi to share experience with Ghana.
She said this culminated in the development of a paralegal framework in 2020 and a guide for legal aid delivery in 2022.

"In this year 2024, we developed a paralegal training curriculum and manual," she added.
Mr Edmund Foley, the Executive Director of the Legal Aid Commission (LAC), emphasized the vital partnership between the Ghana Prisons Service and the LAC, stating, "The Ghana Prisons Service and LAC are comrades at arms. The collaboration and warm relationship that exist between these two institutions are essential to effective justice delivery in Ghana."
He highlighted the LAC's role as a state agency dedicated to providing legal assistance to individuals in need, ensuring their right to equality before the law and a fair trial.

Mr Foley acknowledged the crucial function of paralegals within the legal system, explaining that they play a significant role in informing individuals of their rights, preparing defences, and facilitating access to justice.

He underscored that the importance of paralegals in Ghana's justice system cannot be overstated, as their valuable contributions are recognized globally.

Representing the Director General of Ghana Prisons Service, Mr. Benedict Bob-Dery, the Director of Prisons in charge of Human Resources, stated that the Ghana Prisons Service is an indispensable component of the Criminal Justice System.
He reaffirmed the Service's commitment to fulfilling its mandate, which includes the safe custody, welfare, reform, rehabilitation, and reintegration of inmates into society.

However, he pointed out that these efforts had been significantly challenged by the increasing prison population of both convicts and remandees, resulting in overcrowding across many of the 44 facilities.
As of October 27, 2024, the total prison population reached 14,294, with an authorized capacity of only 10,265, leading to an overcrowding rate of 39.25 per cent.

Mr. Bob-Dery mentioned that the Service, in collaboration with various state agencies and development partners, had implemented measures to address this challenge.
Initiatives such as the Justice for All Program (JFAP) and the forthcoming Community Sentencing Bill have been introduced to help alleviate overcrowding.
He described the paralegal training as another crucial stride towards achieving the Ghana Prisons Service's objective of assisting vulnerable individuals in custody to access justice, as reflected in the training's theme.