President Akufo-Addo has granted amnesty to 794 prisoners in Ghana as part of efforts to decongest the prisons in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.
A statement signed by Patrick Darko Missah, Director General of Prisons, on Thursday, July 2 said: “The president of the Republic His Excellency Akufo-Addo in consultation with the Council of State, in commemoration of workers day 1st May 2020 and in a bid to mitigate the dangers posed by congestion in the prisons, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, has in accordance with Article 72 (1) of the 1992 constitution, granted amnesty to seven hundred and Ninety For (794) deserving prisoners.”
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The categories of convict affected are as follows:
First offenders, 772, Very old prisoners (70yrs and above) 16; seriously ill 4 death sentences commuted to life imprisonment 2.
“The first offenders totalling 772 who have served at least half of their sentences, 16 very old prisoners and 5 seriously ill are to be released outright.
“However, 2 prisoners on death row will have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.”
