Ghana’s Parliament Abolishes Death Penalty2 min read

The amendment bill, sponsored by Madina MP Francis Xavier Sosu, received approval on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, and is now awaiting the president’s assent.

Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, expressed satisfaction with the passing of the amendment, stating that it is a cause for celebration, particularly given the condemnation of the death penalty provision by international human rights institutions, deeming it repugnant.

The amendment of the Criminal and Other Offences Act opens the path for new forms of sentencing, as the death penalty, which had been in existence for over 50 years, has now been repealed, according to Mr Afenyo-Markin.

The move to repeal the death penalty is not an endorsement of murder, as clarified by the Effutu MP.

He emphasised that human life is sacred and should not be taken merely as punishment for a crime.

However, he also clarified that this repeal does not encourage those who commit such offenses.

Instead of the death penalty, life imprisonment will now be implemented, ensuring that offenders will not have the opportunity to re-enter society and potentially repeat such crimes.

The death penalty in Ghana has long been a subject of debate, with civil society organisations advocating for its abolition. Previously, capital punishment was mandatory for certain offenses, including murder, treason, and genocide.

However, Ghana has not executed any convicts on death row since 1993, the year of the country’s return to civilian rule. At that time, twelve people convicted of armed robbery or murder were executed by firing squad.

Amnesty International’s report from the end of 2020 revealed that 160 individuals, comprising 155 men and five women, were under sentence of death in Ghana. Among them were six foreign nationals, one from Benin, two from Burkina Faso, and three from Nigeria.