Ghana’s Juvenile Justice System: how Correctional Centres impact child development

Ghana ratified the CRC and other international standards and instruments as part of its commitment to protect and promote the rights of children including CICLs. The CRC and other international treaties offer guidelines on child rights to guarantee the distinct treatment of CICLs to accomplish reformation, reintegration, and development. These standards provide a robust theoretical foundation for rationalizing concerns involving children by recognizing children as right-holders while outlining specific norms and widely accepted rules. In accordance with the CRC, ACRWC, Ghana’s JJA, and the Children’s Acts 1998, the child justice system should ensure corrections that promote the physical and mental well-being of the child and not interfere with their education and skill acquisition. Contrary to this, several research has disclosed how Ghana’s correctional centers do not conform to international and national legislations and standards that seek the reformation and development of incarcerated CICLs. Using a qualitative methodology, the study sought to highlight the gaps in the operations of the correctional centers which are detrimental to the behavioral, social, physical, and mental development of detained CICLs. Through a child rights-based approach, the study analyzed findings from secondary sources using child development theories and legal frameworks and standards in relation to its question on how Ghana’s child justice system’s correctional centers are harmful to the development of incarcerated CICLs. Overall, the study found that Ghana’s child justice system falls short in conforming to these legislations and standards, and the ultimate way to ensure the wholesome development of detained CICLs in correctional centers was to operate through a child rights-based approach.