36 prison inmates across Ghana partake in the 2025 BECE

This year, a total of 36 prison inmates across Ghana are sitting for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), proving that second chances aren’t just a concept—they’re a reality.

According to the Ghana Prison Service, the candidates, all male, comprise 18 juveniles from the Senior Correctional Centre (SCC), seven from the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, six from the Ho Central Prison, and five from the Kumasi Central Prison.

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The Ghana Prisons Service introduced formal education for inmates in 2007, aiming to equip them with literacy skills and qualifications that could ease their reintegration into society.

The first batch, which was made up of 21 juveniles and young offenders, sat for the BECE in 2009, achieving a remarkable 100% pass rate—a trend that has continued ever since.

The Ghana Prison Service said in a statement that “We believe that education is a powerful tool for rehabilitation. By giving inmates the opportunity to write the BECE, we are helping them build a foundation for a better future upon their release.”

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It also commended the teachers, prison officers, and partner institutions who had supported the candidates with tuition and learning materials in preparation for the examination.

The initiative is commendable, but it raises questions about Ghana’s broader approach to rehabilitation.