Checkmate in Confinement: Ghana’s Inmates Win Inaugural Continental Chess Championship.
Accra, Ghana — Ghana’s youth inmates at the Senior Correctional Centre in Accra delivered a historic performance at the first-ever Continental Online Chess Championship for Prisoners, held on Chess.com platform, under FIDE’s Chess for Freedom initiative.
Facing off against teams from Zimbabwe, Malawi, and Kenya, three teams from Ghana participated—two of which went on to claim first and third place, with Malawi taking second. The competition forms part of a global movement using chess as a transformative tool for education, discipline, and social development within correctional facilities.
The Ghanaian teams were prepared through consistent training led by Mentors Chess Academy, with support from Blazing Dreams, a youth-focused organization. The chess sessions have become a regular and disciplined part of the inmates’ routine, helping to shape a strong mindset among the young players. Through dedication, focus, and teamwork, the boys have grown remarkably in their understanding of the game and in their overall confidence and attitude.
The OIC of the Senior Correctional Centre, DDP. Mrs Yayra Ashong Mettle, praised the youth for their commitment and resilience. “Something good is in you to give back to society,” he told them. “All is not lost—you have made Ghana proud.”
FIDE launched the Chess for Freedom initiative in 2021 to bring chess into correctional systems worldwide, offering a low-cost yet highly impactful educational platform. Ghana’s Youth have been active participants in the initiative and continues to show promise, not only through competition but also in how chess is helping reshape lives.
With the Fifth Intercontinental Chess Championship for Prisoners set for October 14–16, 2025, preparations are already underway. There are now active efforts to expand the chess training program to other correctional centres across Ghana, creating more opportunities for rehabilitation and growth through chess. This calls for more partnerships and sponsorships.
Ghana’s success serves as a compelling case for how structured chess education can become a meaningful part of the reformation process—turning confinement into a time of personal development, and strategy into a symbol of hope.
