Ghana has joined the growing number of African countries that have abolished the death penalty after its parliament voted on Tuesday to replace it with life imprisonment.
The Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2022, sponsored by Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, a member of parliament from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), aims to reform the criminal justice system and align it with international best practices.
The bill amends the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 and the Armed Forces Act, 1962, which prescribe the death penalty for offences such as murder, attempted murder, genocide, piracy and smuggling of gold and diamond.
The death penalty, also known as capital punishment, is the state-sanctioned execution of individuals convicted of certain crimes. In Ghana, the death penalty can be carried out by hanging or shooting by firing squad, according to the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1969.
However, Ghana has not executed anyone since 1993, when 12 people were killed by firing squad for armed robbery or murder. Since then, successive presidents have refused to sign execution warrants, leaving hundreds of death row inmates in limbo.
According to Amnesty International, Ghana had 172 people on death row by the end of 2022, seven of whom were sentenced that year. The human rights group has been campaigning for the global abolition of the death penalty, which it considers a violation of the right to life and a cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment.
The bill was passed by a majority vote in parliament after a heated debate that saw some lawmakers opposing the abolition of the death penalty. They argued that it could lead to more crime and mob justice and that it was justified by the principle of retribution.
However, supporters of the bill said that the death penalty was ineffective as a deterrent, unjust as a punishment and incompatible with Ghana’s obligations under international treaties and conventions.
The Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin announced the passage of the bill after putting it to a vote. He said that the bill would now be sent to President Nana Akufo-Addo for his assent.
Following the passage of the Bill, Mr Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin, the NPP MP for Efutu and the Deputy Majority Leader, told the Parliamentary Press Corps that the Bill’s passage was a triumphant day for the people of Ghana.
“Today the Parliament of Ghana has made the country proud, it has signed onto that which has become an international human rights position.
“We have had the Death Penalty in our Statues Books for well over 50 years, it’s been a concern and Parliament after deliberations and through a member of Parliament championed this private member’s Bill.
“And I am happy to say we’ve by this amendment of the parent Act been able to repeal that provision that deals with death Penalty.”
“So, simply put the Death Penalty is no more a punishment in our Statutes Books….”
Samira Daoud, Amnesty International’s West and Central Africa Director, also welcomed the parliamentary vote as a major step forward for Ghana. She urged the president to sign the bill into law without delay and commute all death sentences to prison terms.
She also called on the Ghanaian authorities to take steps to remove the death penalty from the constitution, which still provides for high treason to be punishable by death.
“Today’s parliamentary vote is a major step by Ghana towards the abolition of the death penalty. It is also a victory for all those who have tirelessly campaigned to consign this cruel punishment to history and strengthen the protection of the right to life,” she said in a statement.
“As of today, 23 out of 55 African countries have abolished the death penalty for all crimes. Amnesty International opposes the death penalty in all cases without exception because it violates the right to life as proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The death penalty has no place in our world.”