Ghana’s decision to abolish death penalty crucial – Amnesty Int’l

“The government of Ghana has stretched a hand of willingness to abolish the death penalty in Ghana to move the country onto a high level on our human right ladder, however, the nation appears to be at crossroads at the moment,” Mr Lawrence Amesu, Director of Amnesty International said.

Mr Amesu said this at a workshop meant to create a platform for stakeholders to discuss the abolition of the death penalty in Ghana and develop an action plan towards its eradication.

He urged human rights organisations, religious bodies and civil society organisations to chart appropriate path that would ensure the ultimate goal of getting rid of the death penalty.

According to the Mr Amesu many people believe that the death penalty should be retained in the penal code because of the increasing spate of armed robbery cases.

He said several people also consider the death penalty as an effective deterrent, adding that “we are all aware that this not the case”.

Ghanaian courts continue to sentence people to death although there has not been any state execution since 1993.

In 2011, the Ghana government set up a Constitution Review Commission (CRC) with a mandate to consult the people of Ghana and offer recommendations for the review of the 1992 Constitution.

The CRC recommendation among others was the abolition of the death penalty which the government accepted, however, as one the entrenched clauses in the 1992 Constitution, the recommendation must go to a referendum for the people to make a decision.

Mr Amesu said experience across the world and current discussion in Ghana indicates that going to a referendum might not be the only way to abolish the death penalty.

“There appears to be different views on this thus placing Ghana at a cross-road as to which way to go,” Mr Amesu said.

Former Commissioner, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice, Justice Emile Short said many people are of the view that the death penalty should be abolished.

He said an equal number of submissions also strongly opposed any attempt to abolish the death penalty, contending that “anyone who attempts to overthrow the constitutional order, the bases of all of our liberties and aspirations, must be sentenced to death”.