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As the world observes 10 October – World Day Against the Death Penalty, Ghana finds itself at a significant turning point. Our country has made courageous moves toward abolishing the death penalty, but some essential actions are still needed to finish the process.

For many years, Amnesty International Ghana and its allies have worked hard to put an end to the death penalty. The effort gained real momentum after the 2010 Constitutional Review Commission suggested completely eliminating it. Even though constitutional changes faced delays, civil society continued — by interacting with Parliament, the media, and the public through ongoing awareness and legal reform initiatives.

In 2021, Mr. Francis-Xavier Sosu, the Member of Parliament representing Madina, proposed a Private Member’s Bill aimed at modifying Ghana’s Criminal Offences Act and the Armed Forces Act to substitute the death penalty with life imprisonment. Following prolonged efforts, Parliament approved the two amendment bills on 25 July 2023, and President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo quickly gave his approval to one of the bills on 11 August 2023, demonstrating significant executive backing for human rights improvements.

The amendments removed the death penalty for all regular offenses, substituting it with life imprisonment — a shift that enabled the reconsideration of sentences for 178 individuals who were previously awaiting execution. Ghana therefore became part of an increasing number of African countries moving away from government-approved executions.

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We praise former President Akufo-Addo for his prompt action and ethical guidance in enacting the bill into law. His swift response showed that Ghana’s democracy is able to provide compassionate justice based on respect.

Equally praiseworthy is the recent presidential pardon of 998 inmates, featuring the commutation of 87 death row sentences to life imprisonment and the lowering of terms for 51 individuals serving life sentences. This humane action by the present government highlights Ghana’s increasing dedication to restorative justice and rehabilitation rather than punishment.

However, additional efforts are still needed. The death penalty is still present in Ghana’s Constitution for the crime of high treason. Amnesty International Ghana has presented a memorandum to the Constitutional Review Committee, suggesting its full elimination. Genuine abolition means that no law, regardless of how symbolic, should allow the state the authority to end a life.

Furthermore, the Office of the Attorney General needs to implement proactive measures to revise the categorization of murder charges within Ghana’s judicial system. At present, the law does not differentiate between different levels or situations of homicide—regarding all murder offenses as equally guilty and subject to the same punishment (previously, a mandatory sentence). This uniform approach has long prevented courts from taking into account factors such as intent, provocation, or reduced responsibility.

Reclassifying murder into classifications like first-degree, second-degree, or manslaughter — as seen in various legal systems — could lead to a more equitable system, decrease incorrect convictions, and provide sentencing that matches Ghana’s recent abolitionist approach.

To guarantee this, Ghana needs to:

1. Modify the Constitution to completely abolish the death penalty.
2. Adopt the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, pledging support for the elimination of the death penalty under international law.
3. Revise the Criminal Offences Act to accurately categorize acts of homicide.
4. Examine all remaining death sentences to confirm they are reduced.
5. Promote ongoing public awareness to strengthen the values of life, respect, and human rights.

On this year’s World Day Against the Death Penalty, we urge the government, Parliament, and the Constitutional Review Committee to complete the bold initiative that Ghana has so bravely started—eliminating the death penalty from our legal system entirely.

Ghana’s role in the fight against abolition can serve as a model for the continent. May this generation be known for eliminating the death penalty, permanently reinforcing the principle that justice should never require the loss of a human life.

The author serves as the Country Director of Amnesty International Ghana, a human rights activist specializing in gender justice and legal reform, and is also a proponent for the elimination of the death penalty and the safeguarding of rights for underprivileged communities.

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Tagged: Ghana, Human Rights, Governance, West Africa

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