Ghana’s parliament has recently voted in favor of abolishing the death penalty for nearly all crimes, making it the latest African nation to repeal capital punishment.
The use of the death penalty in Ghana has been sparing, with the last execution taking place in 1993, primarily for offenses such as murder and treason.
During a session held on Tuesday, lawmakers made the decision to eliminate the death penalty from the country’s legal framework, signifying a significant step towards ending capital punishment in Ghana.
This move aligns with the global trend of many countries moving away from the use of the death penalty as a form of punishment.
“The death sentence is too final, and as a country that respects human rights, we can’t continue to have it as part of our laws,” Francis-Xavier Sosu, an opposition MP who proposed the reform, said.
“It’s a proud moment and I am looking forward to the presidential assent.”
The prison service said 172 prisoners are currently on death row and will have their terms converted to life imprisonment.
Amnesty International, a human rights organization, hailed the parliamentary vote in Ghana as a significant stride towards the complete abolition of the death penalty.
“Although a landmark decision, the total abolition of this draconian punishment would not be complete without revising the constitution, which still provides for high treason to be punishable by death,” it said.
Amnesty said 23 out of 55 African countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes.
“The shift from the death penalty to life imprisonment represents a crucial step towards embracing international human rights positions,” said Alexander Afenyo-Markin, deputy majority leader.
“This clearly shows that we respect human rights.”
