Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama has granted amnesty to 998 prisoners across the country, offering a second chance to inmates ranging from first-time offenders to the elderly and sick. The decision, announced by the Ghana Prisons Service, followed recommendations from the Prisons Service Council and consultations with the Council of State. It was carried out under Article 72(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which gives the president authority to pardon prisoners in consultation with key advisory bodies.
Originally, 1,014 prisoners were proposed for release, but the number was reduced after further review. The beneficiaries fall into multiple categories 787 first-time offenders whose release is intended to ease congestion in prisons, 87 prisoners on death row, whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment,51 inmates serving life terms, now reduced to 20 years, 33 prisoners suffering from serious illnesses, released on medical grounds, 36 elderly inmates aged over 70, considered too frail to remain in custody, two nursing mothers, to reunite them with their children and two additional inmates, freed after successful petitions for clemency.
Prison overcrowding has long been a concern in Ghana, with facilities often holding more than double their intended capacity. Human rights groups have welcomed the move as a step toward easing inhumane conditions, though they continue to push for broader prison reforms. Officials stressed that the amnesty does not erase the seriousness of crimes committed but rather reflects compassion for vulnerable prisoners and efforts to balance justice with humanity.
