Ghana’s parliament recently passed a historic resolution to abolish the death penalty, joining the ranks of progressive African countries that have recently made the same decision.
Although there haven’t been any executions in Ghana since 1993, data from the Ghana Prisons Service show that there were still 176 people on death row as of last year.
According to a thorough parliamentary committee report, the ground-breaking bill will amend the Criminal Offences Act and substitute life imprisonment for the death penalty. The law needs President Nana Akufo-Addo‘s approvalto be fully implemented.
The bill’s ardent supporter and MP for the Madina constituency, Francis-Xavier Sosu, praised the historic accomplishment and said, “This is a tremendous advancement for Ghana’s human rights record.”
He added that in-depth analysis of the constitution and surveys of public opinion showed that the majority of Ghanaians supported killing the death penalty.
It is impossible to overstate the importance of Ghana’s decision, which makes it the 124th country worldwide and the 29th in Africa to do so.
The Death Penalty Project, a well-known NGO with headquarters in London, worked with regional partners in Ghana to support the revolutionary law change.
This historic occasion demonstrates Ghana’s dedication to advancing a more just and compassionate society where human rights are valued and upheld.
As the world looks on, Ghana’s forward-thinking stance on abolition of the death penalty serves as an encouraging model for other countries.
In other news, the deputy ministers of two ministries have been switched around in President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration.
Cecilia Abena Dapaah’s resignation letter, dated Saturday, July 22, 2023, was accepted by the President, and the Tano North MP now fills her position.
The deputy ministers for the ministries of roads and highways, foreign affairs, and regional integration were switched by the president.
Mavis Nkansah Boadu, formerly the deputy minister for roads, is now the deputy minister for foreign affairs and regional integration, and Thomas Mbomba, formerly the deputy minister for foreign affairs and regional integration, is now the deputy minister for roads and highways. This change is effective immediately.
