Government has approved a significant increase in the daily feeding allowance for prisoners, raising it from GH¢1.80 to GH¢5.00. This adjustment, the first in 15 years, comes in response to escalating food prices and the need to improve inmate welfare.
The previous allowance of GH¢1.80 per day, unchanged since 2010, had long been criticized as insufficient to provide adequate nutrition. Over the years, inflation sharply eroded the value of this allocation.
Ghana’s annual consumer inflation rate surged above 50% in 2022, moderated in 2023, and has since cooled to around 11.5% in 2025. Rising food prices during this period further worsened the shortfall, making it increasingly difficult for prisons to provide balanced meals.
Speaking at the announcement, Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, Patience Baffoe-Bonnie, welcomed the increase, noting that the higher allowance will help improve nutrition and reduce unrest in the prison system.
She highlighted that, despite supplemental measures, such as prison gardens, poultry and fish projects, and occasional donations, prison meals had often been inadequate.
The new GH¢5.00 daily allowance is expected to ease tensions within the prison system, improve daily living conditions, and demonstrate the government’s commitment to addressing long-standing welfare concerns.
Authorities believe the adjustment will also support better health outcomes and make prison management more sustainable.
The move reflects broader efforts by the government to prioritize basic necessities in institutional settings, signaling a willingness to address long-standing complaints and ensure humane conditions for those in custody.
