Commute inmates on death row to life in prison - Amnesty international Ghana entreats President

Amnesty International Ghana has entreated the President, John Dramani Mahama, to exercise his prerogative of mercy to commute inmates on death row in the country's prisons to life in prison.

It said execution of such persons was irreversible in cases where fresh evidence vindicated them, adding that "if they are found not to be guilty, they could be freed and compensated."

Situation

Sharing the executive summary of the 2025 death penalty report to journalists in Accra on Wednesday, the Board Chair of AI Ghana, Francis Nyantakyi, said most of the inmates on death row were in the minority, some of who lacked the financial muscle to engage lawyers.

The report indicated that death penalty was not deterrent enough, else countries like the US and Iran which still executed people would have wiped out crime completely.

"Unfortunately, crime is on the ascendancy in these countries, re-enforcing our stance that the death penalty has outlived it's usefulness," Mr Nyantakyi said.

Human rights

The  chairman further said that  AI Ghana considered a fair and just justice administration that respected human life and dignity as relevant.

"Gladly, Ghana has shown the way. From 2010 till date, all the Presidential Commissions tasked to review the 1992 Constitution have called for it to be expunged from the books.

"Equally, Parliament has also shown the way by removing the death penalty provision from it's criminal and other offences Act," Mr Nyantakyi said.

He said that the only provision left was it's entrenched clause, which the chairman said required a referendum for it to be expunged.