The former General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Nana Yaa Jantuah, has called for a reconsideration of the country’s death penalty, deeming death by hanging as inhumane.
Her remarks follow the recent sentencing of six individuals to death by hanging for conspiring and committing high treason on January 24, 2024.
In an interview on TV3, Nana Yaa suggested exploring alternative methods of the death penalty, such as an electric chair or lethal injection, emphasizing the need for more dignified approaches.
“It’s not humane, if they want to keep the death penalty at least they should die in some form of dignity. Hanging is not a very pleasant way to go to heaven or hell. Why can’t the national get an electric chair or lethal injection? I know most people on death row are not even killed but conditions in the prison are bad,” she said.
“I was disturbed in the night especially when I saw the woman among them. I wanted women to petition the President so that they should be exempted from the penalty. It came as a shock to me, Women normally don’t get involved in these things. I later found out she was highly involved in the matter, how they were manufacturing bombs and stocking guns and that she was going to be the chief of staff,” she mentioned.
She expressed concern over the unpleasant nature of death by hanging and urged the nation to consider humane alternatives.
Expressing her distress, Nana Yaa particularly highlighted the involvement of a woman, Warrant Officer Class Two Esther Saan Dekuwine, among the accused.
She urged women to petition the President for exemption from the penalty, citing her shock at a woman being intricately involved in manufacturing bombs and stocking guns for what was revealed to be a serious offense.
The accused also included Dr. Mac Palm (now deceased), Donya Kafui alias Ezor, Bright Allan Debrah Ofosu, Yohannes Zikpi, Corporal Seidu Abubakar, Lance Corporal Ali Solomon, and Corporal Sylvester Akanpewon.