The Ministry of Interior will next year initiate a legislation to introduce non-custodial sentence into the country’s criminal jurisprudence to reduce congestion in the prisons.

The ministry says congestion in the prisons is hampering efforts at reforming inmates.

Deputy Interior Minister James Algalga says a bill to that effect will be laid before Parliament when the house reconvenes from the Christmas break.

He was also hopeful expansion works being undertaken in some of the prisons will help address some of the challenges facing the prisons.

“In addition to Justice for All program, it is the intention of the Ministry of Interior to initiate some legislations to introduce non-custodial sentencing measures into our criminal jurisprudence as a way of decongesting our prisons.”

In an unrelated development, the Tema and Kaneshie Police are holding a number of cargo drivers who connived with armed robbers to rob their own goods.

The drivers, mostly those who transport rice and sugar, allegedly feign breakdown of their trucks on the highways and arrange with the robbers to rob their goods for their personal gains.

DSP Freeman Tettey of the Police Public Relations Directorate tells Joy News owners of such goods must ensure they travel with their drivers to ensure safe arrival of their goods.