In a significant act of executive clemency, President John Dramani Mahama has granted amnesty to 998 prisoners across Ghana, exercising his constitutional prerogative of mercy under Article 72(1) of the 1992 Constitution. The decision, stemming from recommendations put forth by the Prisons Service Council and consultations with the Council of State, reflects a balanced infusion of humanitarian concern and judicial restraint.
Out of 1,014 inmates put forward for consideration, 998 were approved—a process which involved rigorous evaluation of individual circumstances. The beneficiaries span diverse categories of incarceration, focusing especially on first-time offenders and those facing severe or extraordinary circumstances.
A breakdown of the recipients reveals a deeply humane approach: 787 first-time offenders will be pardoned, offering them a chance at societal reintegration. Meanwhile, sentences of 87 prisoners previously under the death penalty have been commuted to life imprisonment. Those serving life sentences have seen their terms adjusted to a fixed 20-year duration. Additionally, the mercy extended includes 33 seriously ill prisoners, 36 inmates aged over 70 (regardless of original offences), two nursing mothers, and two individuals who had petitioned the presidency directly.
Notably, among those cited in public pleas but ultimately found ineligible for clemency is William Ato Essien, the former CEO of the now-shuttered Capital Bank. Despite mounting advocacy for his pardon, principally on medical grounds, he was not among the beneficiaries, according to Graphic Online.
This move underscores several vital objectives: alleviating overcrowded prisons, providing relief to vulnerable inmates, and reinforcing the principle that justice can accommodate compassion. Reports emphasise that humanitarian considerations played a central role in shaping the amnesty decisions.
Minister of Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson Felix Kwakye Ofosu formally announced the decision via a government statement, confirming the presidential grants of pardon.
