THE DEATH PENALTY IN GHANA

Updated March 2011

Ghana is abolitionist in practice. The last execu-

tions took place in July 1993; at that time, 12
people were shot for armed robbery or murder.

Ghana still retains the death penalty in law for

armed robbery, treason and first-degree murder.
The method of execution is shooting.

In April 2000, 100 people had their death sen-

tences commuted to life terms.

In February 2001, the Minister of Justice, Nana

Akufo-Addo, declared that he was not personally in favor of the death pen-
alty, while stressing that this was not necessarily the government's position.

The most recent death sentence was given in February 2002. Edward Anim
Densu was sentenced to hang by the Koforidua High Court. His sentence
was later commuted to life in prison.

As of March 2006, there are 152 prisoners on Ghana’s death row.

On March 6, 2007 Ghana’s President, John Kufuor, freed or commuted the

sentences of 1,206 prisoners to mark the 50th anniversary of independence

On December 18, 2008 Ghana abstained on the Resolution on a Morato-

rium on the Use of the Death Penalty at the UN General Assembly.

A Constitutional Review Commission is currently looking at ways to improve

governance in Ghana. Abolition of the death penalty could be one of the
changes made.
TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION IN GHANA!
Updated March 2011

Sign and mail the attached form letter, or write your own letter using some or all of the following
points:

As part of the Constitutional Review process, abolition of capital punishment is under considera-
tion

16 member states of the African Union (AU), include Ghana’s neighbors, have already abolished
the death penalty

More than two-thirds of the world’s countries that have abolished the death penalty in law or prac-
tice

The last execution in Ghana took place in 1993, so many would consider Ghana abolitionist in
practice

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has called on AU member states to abol-
ish the death penalty

In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution calling for all nations
to establish a moratorium on executions as a first step towards abolishing capital punishment with
109 votes in favor to only 41 against with 35 abstentions.

Abolition of the death penalty in Ghana will not only be a major victory for human rights world-
wide, but will give new hope and inspiration to those seeking to improve the quality of criminal
justice in the United States, and other countries where capital punishment is still in use.

Mail letters to:

His Excellency Professor John Attah Mills

The President
Republic of Ghana
The Castle,
Osu, Accra ,Ghana

Prof. Albert Fiadjoe

The Chairman
Ghana Constitutional Review Commission
16, 5th Link Cantonments,
P. O. Box CT 1619
Accra, Ghana
His Excellency Professor John Attah Mills
The President
Republic of Ghana
The Castle,
Osu, Accra ,Ghana

Prof. Albert Fiadjoe

The Chairman
Ghana Constitutional Review Commission
16, 5th Link Cantonments,
P. O. Box CT 1619
Accra, Ghana

Dear President Mills and Chairman Fiadjoe,

I am writing to urge you to endorse abolition of the death penalty in Ghana. I under-
stand that as part of the Constitutional Review process, abolition of capital punishment
is under consideration and I believe that, as the world continues to move away from the
death penalty, now is the perfect time for Ghana to end executions of prisoners.

16 member states of the African Union (AU), include Ghana’s neighbors, have already
abolished the death penalty, joining the more than two-thirds of the world’s countries
that have abolished it in law or practice.

Although there are over 120 prisoners on death row in Ghana, the last execution took
place in 1993, so many would consider Ghana abolitionist in practice. The next logical
step will be to formally abolish the death penalty in law.

Such a step will have the support of the regional and international community. The Af-
rican Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights has called on AU member states to
abolish the death penalty. And, beginning in 2007, the United Nations General Assem-
bly (UNGA) has adopted resolutions calling for all nations to establish a moratorium on
executions as a first step towards abolishing capital punishment. In 2010, the most
recent such resolution on ending passed with a 109 votes in favor to only 41 against
with 35 abstentions.

As a resident of the United States of America, I believe abolition of the death penalty in
Ghana will not only be a major victory for human rights worldwide, but will give new
hope and inspiration to us in our efforts to improve the quality of criminal justice here
in the United States.

Sincerely,