President John Dramani Mahama has exercised his constitutional prerogative of mercy to grant amnesty to 998 prisoners across the country. The decis
President John Dramani Mahama has exercised his constitutional prerogative of mercy to grant amnesty to 998 prisoners across the country.
The decision, announced after consultations with the Prisons Service Council and the Council of State, falls under Article 72(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which empowers the President to pardon, commute, or remit sentences of convicted persons.
The release forms part of efforts to decongest Ghana’s overcrowded prisons, a problem that has persisted for decades.
The Ghana Prisons Service has repeatedly raised concerns about congestion, poor living conditions, and limited resources, which make rehabilitation difficult.
Over the years, various presidents have occasionally granted amnesties, particularly during national celebrations, as a humanitarian gesture and to ease pressure on prison facilities.
Categories of Beneficiaries
Out of 1,014 convicts recommended by the Prisons Service Council, a total of 998 were approved by President Mahama.
The breakdown is as follows:
First-time offenders: 787 inmates benefited, making up the largest category of those freed.
Death row inmates commuted to life imprisonment: 87 prisoners had their sentences reduced.
Life sentences commuted to fixed terms: 51 individuals will now serve three years definite term instead of life imprisonment.
Seriously ill prisoners: 33 inmates suffering from severe medical conditions were granted freedom.
Elderly prisoners (above 70 years old): 36 inmates were released regardless of their offences.
Nursing mothers: One nursing mother was freed to allow her to care for her child outside prison walls.
Petitions: Two cases were considered and granted based on individual appeals.
A Longstanding Policy of Mercy
This act of clemency is in line with similar measures taken in previous administrations.
Successive governments have recognized the challenges within Ghana’s correctional system, where prisons built to house about 9,000 inmates currently hold over 13,000, according to recent data from the Prisons Service.
The move has been welcomed by human rights advocates, who argue that the conditions in prisons often violate the dignity of inmates.
However, critics have sometimes raised concerns about the criteria used in selecting beneficiaries, urging government to ensure transparency and fairness in the process.
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