In a significant stride for human rights, Ghana has officially become the 29th African country to eliminate the death penalty, a move celebrated by advocates worldwide.
This decision implies that the current 176 individuals on death row, including six women, are likely to have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.
Ghana's parliament, on Tuesday, voted to amend its criminal offences act, thereby eliminating capital punishment for crimes such as murder, genocide, piracy, and smuggling.
However, it's important to note that the death penalty will still be applicable for cases of high treason, and campaigners emphasize that a complete removal of the penalty would necessitate a constitutional amendment.
Despite not having carried out an execution since 1993, Ghana's courts have continued to issue death sentences, including seven last year. The final step for this change to take effect involves the signature of the bill into law by Ghana's president, Nana Akufo-Addo.
With this decision, Ghana joins the ranks of 124 countries that have abolished the death penalty, while an additional 41 countries are considered to have de facto bans due to a lack of executions for over a decade. In the year 2022, 52 countries confirmed death sentences, a decrease of four from 2021, as reported by Amnesty International.
This historic move towards abolishing the death penalty signifies a triumph for humanity's enduring commitment to justice, compassion, and human rights. By choosing life over execution, Ghana joins a global momentum towards a more equitable and humane legal system, reinforcing the value of every individual's inherent dignity and the importance of evolving legal standards.
Sources: Amnesty International. "Amnesty International Global Report: Death Sentences and Executions 2022". https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/act50/6548/2023/en/, May 16, 2023. Index Number: ACT 50/6548/2023. [Accessed: 29 July 2023]
Dehghan, Saeed Kamali. The Guardian. "Ghana abolishes death penalty, with expected reprieve for 176 condemned prisoners". https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2023/jul/26/ghana-abolishes-death-penalty-with-expected-reprieve-for-176-condemned-prisoners. Wed 26 Jul 2023. [Accessed: 29 July 2023]
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