In a move aligning with Article 72(1) of Ghana's Constitution, President John Dramani Mahama has granted amnesty to 998 prisoners. The decision, which follows recommendations from the Prisons Service Council and consultations with the Council of State, aims to provide a second chance to various inmates.
The amnesty, effective immediately, benefits a wide range of individuals. The largest group of beneficiaries is 787 first-time offenders who have been granted full release. Additionally, 87 inmates who were on death row will now have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment, while 51 serving life sentences will have their terms reduced to 20 years.
The compassionate aspect of the amnesty extends to 33 seriously ill prisoners and 36 inmates over the age of 70 who will also be released. Furthermore, two nursing mothers and two prisoners whose petitions for release were successful are included in the pardon.
The President’s actions reflect a commitment to both justice and rehabilitation, offering a path to reintegration for many and a measure of clemency for others based on humanitarian grounds.
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