Ghanatodayonline.com News, Politics, Health, Education & More
Francis Xavier Sosu, a member of parliament representing Madina, has requested that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commute the death sentences of death row inmates to life in prison.
In a petition made public to Ghanatodayonline.com and dated October 11, he begged Akufo-Addo to use his prerogative of mercy to free these people from execution row.
According to Mr. Xavier Sosu, it is only proper for the president to grant his request following the approval of Private Member’s Bills that would change the Criminal and Other Offenses Act of 1960 (Act 29) and the Armed Forces Act of 1962 (Act 105) to eliminate the death sentence in favor of life in prison.
“I write for and on behalf of all 181 persons currently on death row in respect of the above subject. I wish to respectfully appeal to your High Office to exercise your prerogative of mercy to commute all persons currently on death sentence to life imprisonment pursuant to the authority granted you under Article 72(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana.
“Your Excellency, Article 72 (1) (c) of the Constitution of Ghana, 1992 provides as follows: “The President may, acting in consultation with the Council of State-(c) Substitute a less severe form of punishment for a punishment imposed on a person for an offence;…” excerpts of the petition intercepted by Metro TV read.
The release of individuals who are on death row, according to Amnesty International’s country director Genevieve Partington, will “improve the country’s reputation and standing in the global community.”
“It will also help maintain consistency in our legal system that values the preservation of human lives,” she said.
Ms. Partington added that it would facilitate the personal development and rehabilitation of prisoners who have changed their life.
Rita Nupe Demuyakor, the founder of Advocate for Fair Legal Access in Ghana, called the prison’s circumstances as appalling and barbaric.
For an hour or two, they venture outside to enjoy the weather.
They experience a lot mentally, she claimed.
Jonathan Osei Owusu, the executive director of the Perfector of Sentiments (POS) Foundation, acknowledged the part that numerous stakeholders had done in promoting the abolition of the death sentence.
Additionally, all participants agreed that commuting death row inmates’ sentences would help with infrastructure issues, particularly for male inmates.
Six of the approximately 185 convicts on execution row are female.
More than 15,000 convicts are housed in facilities for males serving life sentences, which previously held 10, 265 people.
Additionally, they pleaded with international organizations to provide money in order to give the convicts with suitable housing.
During the passage of the Anti-death Penalty Bill, Mr. Sosu urged the CSOs to take advantage of the President’s goodwill.
Read Xavier Sosu’s letter to the president below:
Source: Ghanatodayonline.com
