Date Submitted:07.11.2018

Mission

ACRO Ghana’s vision is a safer society where everyone belongs, human rights respected and preventing crime means tackling social exclusion and re-integrating those who offend. The issue of whether to introduce alternatives to imprisonment and that of the role of the judiciary in the execution of criminal sentences are our focus as imprisonment has weakened to effect social rehabilitation. Be that as it may, rising crime – especially juvenile delinquency -, overpopulated prisons and rising recidivism (re-offences) are sufficient justification for us to look into non custodial alternatives especially in our part of the world. ACRO Ghana is embedded with social inclusion activities namely, sports projects that address these issues in our society today to promote peace, equality of sexes, development and poverty reduction.

Background and Rationale

The concept and function of the criminal sentence has varied considerably over time and between continents. To deprive an individual of his liberty, in historical terms, represents real progress over corporal punishments; this fact led Rossi to write, in 1829, that custody is the sentence most appropriate to civilised societies. But the reality of modern imprisonment fails by a long way to confirm this bold assertion. The time has now come to call into question the philosophy and consequences of custodial penalties.

In many developing countries, the issue of whether to introduce alternatives to imprisonment and that of the role of judiciary in the execution of criminal sentences are being increasingly and vigorously debated. The issue cannot be one of culturalism; if it were, it would become entrenched in a perpetual appeal to tradition, which itself would become detached from its social and historic context. Mutilations, corporal punishments, banishment, relegation. Galley slavery and hard labour are all part of our tradition, but does that make them appropriate responses to present-day philosophical, social and cultural requirements?

Comparative studies of writings and first-hand experiences of prison in Ghana make grim reading. One would have thought that, with our current Democratic dispensation, Prison numbers would reduce as a result of fair trials and legal representations. However as at 11. November 2005 there were 12,531 detainees, 77% increase of 1996 figure of 7,076. The occupancy level based on official capacity of the Prison system is 157%, that is 57% over capacity, with a female population of approximately 2% (Source: National Prison Administration). Government resources are stretched and theprisons do not rank very high in the order of budgetary priorities. This trend is alarming, and unless concrete steps are taken, there would be national crises.

Over populated prisons, financial problems, the almost universal impossibility of achieving social rehabilitation despite this often being a stated aim in the statutory texts, the lack of personalised sentencing and, in most cases, the abdications responsibility and the lack of interests shown by courts towards the post sentencing” period. The function of monitoring custodial sentences, despite there having been determined by judges, is all too often passed on to the Interior Ministry, the prison administration or other administrative departments where judges are notable for their absence. But a judge’s duty is to be the guarantor of individual rights and liberties: can he truly be fulfilling this duty, which is conferred in him by our constitution, if he fails to monitor the way in which his own sentences are carried out?

Goals and Objectives

  1. The idea in a way, is to “get judges into prisons”. Apart from the retributive and deterrent aspects of penalties (these are rooted in traditions – those of Roman Germanic law and of the Napoleonic code!), one fundamental purpose of criminal sanctions is to rehabilitate convicted offenders so that they can be returned to society.

The long term goal is to set up community supported Artisan villages in our communities where people with minor offences would not be imprisoned but made to pay back the offence through communal service and training. The target is to reduce the percentage rise in Prison populace by 10% by the year 2016. Continually educate the populace of their civic responsibilities, human rights abuses both in our communities, in prisons and also crime prevention. Work with the Judicially, Traditional Rulers and the District Assemblies to set up communal courts to settle minor disputes. As at 11.11.2005 pre- trail detainees / remand prisoners were 3,309. (source: national prison administration)

  1. To find out whether these reforms are feasible (alternative penalties, the appointment of judges to execute and review sentences) it is essential to gain more comparative knowledge of existing statutes and practices in Ghana. All too often, the argument that there are “insufficient resources” is put forward by those who prefer the status quo and who avoid thoughts and actions which require commitment, conviction and energy. It is our humble desire to work with Judges, prison staff members and voluntary workers to work out the way forward despite the harsh socio-economic conditions with which we may have to cope.
  1. To engage in human rights work and penal reform in particular, that is monitoring the situation in the criminal justice system as a whole, gathering, evaluating and disseminating information and, in the process exposing human rights violations. While information is not, in itself, sufficient to halt any human rights abuses and cause effective change, it is a precondition for stopping abuses and a prerequisite for effective action towards penal reform. Once such information is made public, government is compelled to act. Exposure of incidents of torture and other human rights violations, increasing public awareness of the issues, and thus helping to reduce the level of abuse.
  1. To provide information to our constituencies, government, mass media and to intergovernmental organisations charged with human rights responsibilities such as UN Commission on Human Rights, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, in the form of petitions, written and oral interventions, and analyses, these bodies would be largely ineffective, for few have real fact-finding capabilities.
  1. For human rights organisation, advocacy may mean speaking out for the voiceless and, in this fashion, expanding and making more visible what may be only a latent conflict. This involves breaking completely new grounds, focusing public attention on an issue that has been totally ignored and out side the public consciousness.
  1. The problem of the huge remand population in Ghanaian prisons has been an area of concern. The problem of HIV/AIDS in prisons is another area of intervention. Advocacy, therefore, involves first gathering and presenting enough evidence in a world in which multiple crises and innumerable just causes are fiercely competing for attention, legitimacy and urgency. If and when ACRO Ghana succeeds in its pleading, when the issue gains enough political salience to become “an issue”, then the task becomes one of sustaining concern; i.e., keeping it on the political agenda.
  1. ACRO Ghana has come to realise that people cannot defend their rights unless they know their rights. Only through education and conscientization can change the attitude of both the government and the public towards prisoners and the need for reform in the criminal justice system. The educational efforts that engage ACRO Ghana in the human rights arena tend to be at the non formal level, rather than formal school setting, and involve consultations, workshops, and seminars, and training courses for prison staff, prisoners and other key players in the criminal justice system.
  1. Majority of citizens who cannot afford legal representation have got to defend themselves against a system they do not understand. ACRO Ghana therefore, has a role to play in offering legal aid. More generally, using the rights of defence and providing legal assistance keeps alive the spark of hope in the existence of re-emergence of the rule of law. We set the platform to engage in a broad range of activities that can be grouped under the heading of humanitarian assistance. This involves the provision of food, clothes, medical care, information technology or reading material to prisoners and the exclusive citizenry in the communities.
  1. One of the greatest challenges to penal reform in Ghana is reconciling offenders with the society and the victims of their crimes. It is no doubt that the rate of recidivism in most African countries including Ghana is estimated at 60%. With limited funding to run prisons, even transport for prisoners to return home on release is a problem. ACRO Ghana has a big role to play in this area.
  1. ACRO Ghana involves in crime prevention programmes, especially for the youth and released prisoners. We work to make society safer by finding practical solutions to reducing crime. Providing opportunities for young people living in disadvantaged areas to

get involved in recreational activities is an important part of ACRO Ghana.

We are committed, together with the communities where our sports clubs are established, to construct children’s playing grounds. At peak periods of children’s play, volunteers will avail themselves to talk to parents who need any form of help, including counselling on Mother Child Health care. Notwithstanding the above activities, ACRO Ghana would ensure the re-vitalisation of all Cultural and Dancing groups to entertain and at the same time act as a medium to strengthen the improvements in health of the people by their dancing activities.

Project Design and Implementation Plan

ACRO Ghanaworks to make society safer by finding practical solutions to reducing crime. We work to give ex-offenders, other disadvantaged people and deprived communities the help they need to build a better future. Providing opportunities for young people living in disadvantaged areas to get involved in recreational activities. Sports is an important part of ACRO Ghana’s community based work by running youth Activity Units (YAUs) throughout Ghana. The Projects recruit and train adult volunteers from the local community – whom are unemployed or unwaged – to take a leading role in organising and running activities. This community-led provision in ACRO Ghana’s mind would be an effective way of addressing disaffection and empowering young people, increasing the skills and confidence of adult volunteers, and strengthening good community relations. Our activities and youth inclusion projects is the use football and other sports activities as an accessible, affordable and enjoyable means to increase young people’s self-confidence and channel their energies in a constructive direction away from causing trouble.

Football as a means to engage

The emphasis of ACRO Ghana’s football projects is on participation, personal and social development and fun. Although football is a competitive sport, our projects work to engage young as well as the aged people regardless of individual skill, ability and sex. Through outreach work in the local community, word-of-mouth and referrals from local statutory and voluntary agencies, projects target hard-to-reach young people and those considered to be ‘at risk’, marginalised or vulnerable. This includes young people who are excluded – or at risk of exclusion – from school and young people aged 16 and over who are not in any form of education, training or employment or not involved in any kind of youth provision. Football’s popularity in Ghana makes it a good ‘hook’ for attracting and engaging young people who might otherwise be reluctant to be approached and to become involved. Once young people are taking part in activities, project staff and volunteers support them in identifying and addressing any other issues they may be facing, such as problems with drugs, alcohol and general health and fitness.

ACRO Ghana establishes an effective model of working, on which all our football projects are based:

  1. Meetings held with local residents’ associations and community groups in order to identify local needs
  2. and to recruit adult volunteers to set up and run the clubs. Volunteers are given training and support,
  3. including help with establishing a club structure, the provision of equipment and accessing training
  4. venues, and the opportunity to participate in an accredited training programme, such as the Football
  5. ACRO Ghana ensures the Community Sports Leaders of volunteers receives some form of accredited training. Once established, each club – which is responsible for recruiting volunteers locally – runs weekly training sessions for young people. Representatives from each of the clubs in an area meet regularly to plan and develop a project’s activities, including arranging inter-club tournaments and developing joint training activities on a variety of related topics, including:
  • first aid
  • child protection
  • diet/nutrition for sport
  • health
  • drug/alcohol awareness
  • bullying

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The way we work

ACRO Ghana establishes strong links with a range of local statutory and voluntary agencies and organisations concerned with young people’s welfare and tackling young crime, and, through inter-agency working and the involvement of community volunteers, a structure is in place to ensure long-term sustainable activity. ACRO Ghana also develops partnerships with the business community, Foundations, local and foreign football clubs. Such partnerships enables us to access essential resources, including:

  • equipment
  • access to venues and facilities
  • trophies for tournament activities
  • football kit
  • prizes of T-shirts, footballs and other equipment from Football Foundation, Premier League and Football Association.

More than football

Some of ACRO Ghana’s projects have widened the net to include other sports and income generating activities of interest to young and aged people in the local community, such as netball, volleyball, wrestling, general fitness sessions, farming and other outdoor pursuits. Some also target the needs of particular groups of young people, such as young women and young people of special disabilities.

ACRO Ghana engages a National Football Development Officer and a National Sports Development Officer to support project activities, develop and enhance nation-wide service delivery and to work with sports’ governing bodies and Foundations to source additional funding and resources.

Working in partnership and Widening the net

ACRO Ghana’s football projects can benefit young people, the aged, volunteersand the local communityin many ways:

Young people

As well as providing the opportunity to participate in an enjoyable activity, our projects aim to help young people develop:

  • self-esteem and self-confidence
  • an increased sense of belonging
  • teamwork skills
  • positive relationships with adults and other agencies
  • a sense of achievement and of what is achievable
  • a healthier lifestyle.
  • Opportunities for talented young people to improve their skills are made available through local football contacts, representative and feeder teams. Further opportunities arise through contacts with football in the community schemes and other Premier Division affiliated clubs and leagues.

Volunteers

Volunteers have much to gain from their involvement in a project, including:

  • extensive training
  • the opportunity to work towards coaching and leadership awards, and the Junior/Community Sports Leaders Awards
  • valuable experience and the development of employment skills
  • a sense of achievement and of belonging
  • the chance to meet and develop relationships with others involved in the project
  • recognition within the project and the local community
  • paid employment in football/sports coaching both within ACRO Ghana and for other organisations.

Who benefits?

Community

Through using a community-based and community-led model, ACRO Ghana football projects can benefit the local community in the following ways:

  • bring together different groups to engage in something positive, which takes co-operation and a
  • willingness to learn. This can help to break down social barriers that exist within a community
  • provide something constructive for young people to do. This will help prevent the anti-social and offending behaviour, which has such a negative impact on a community.
Equality and Diversity

ACRO Ghana values the diverse nature of its staff and of those using our services. We will ensure that this is reflected in all our practices, policies and services. ACRO Ghana’s commitment to equality involves much more than positive action to promote equality of opportunity and eradicate discrimination. It means that we are actively committed to encouraging and promoting the richness brought to the organisation by the diverse nature of our staff and service users. A commitment to this policy is required of all ACRO Ghana staff, Supporters and service users.

With the people of Ghana and Dormaa District in particular having passion for Football, ACRO Ghana, setting up Football teams of all ages in the 15 sub Districts to train and keep our men and women healthy and also use the gatherings as a platform for educational and other developmental programmes. Under sports we create awareness of healthy life styles including, control of Blood Pressure( which has become a major cause of Heart attacks and deaths. Nutrition, Alcoholism and use of Drugs amongst others, which in many cases contribute to crimes and unrest in our society. In addition to the above, we engage in sports of all ages for our men and women in our communities. We encourage our women to take active part in Football game, which is found in every corner of our country whilst they revive “Ammpe” (traditional game where players jump, recite, clap and throw their legs). We also encourage our men to involve themselves also in Ammpe, a sign of solidarity with the women.