The Minister for the Interior, Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak, has raised concerns over what he describes as the excessive use of remand by the police and the courts, warning that the practice is contributing significantly to congestion in the country’s correctional facilities.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, May 28, the minister criticised the routine reliance on remand and questioned bail conditions which, according to him, are often beyond the means of ordinary accused persons.

He said the government is pursuing reforms through the ongoing constitutional review process to ensure that remand is used only in exceptional cases.

Mr Mubarak disclosed that he has been engaging the Attorney General and Minister for Justice, Dominic Ayine, on proposed amendments aimed at tightening the conditions under which suspects can be remanded.

According to him, many people remain in custody unnecessarily, including individuals facing minor charges, while others are unable to meet strict bail conditions imposed by the courts.

The Interior Minister expressed confidence that the proposed Community Service Bill, together with the planned constitutional reforms, would help reduce pressure on prisons and police cells by providing alternative punishments for minor offences.

He also revealed that the state spends nearly GH¢40 million annually on feeding inmates across the country’s prisons, describing the allocation as inadequate given the increasing inmate population.