Following Ghana’s historic decision to abolish the death penalty, Hon. Francis-Xavier Sosu, the Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency, has urged President John Dramani Mahama to use his constitutional prerogative of mercy to commute the sentences of all inmates presently on death row to life in prison.
His appeal, which is based on both humanitarian concerns and legal reform, comes after the Parliamentary Committee on Human Rights visited the Ghana Prisons Service earlier this week.
“…, the Human Rights Committee of Parliament paid a visit to the Ghana Prisons Service, where we interacted with inmates and gained insights into their welfare and prison conditions. We also visited the condemned block that contains inmates on death row.”
Hon. Francis Xavier Sosu, MP for Madina Constituency
In light of the visit, Hon. Sosu has made a strong public plea to President Mahama to take immediate action to bring Ghana’s legal system into compliance with the new law’s letter and spirit.
Ghana is a pioneer in Africa’s slow transition to more compassionate legal systems, having officially abolished the death penalty for common criminal offences in 2023.
However, Hon. Sosu pointed out that dozens of prisoners are still on death row because they were sentenced under the now-defunct Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) provisions that previously required the death penalty for specific serious crimes.
Punitive Justice System
Hon. Sosu underlined that despite changes in the law, these people’s lives realities are still constrained by an antiquated and severely punitive system.
He noted with concern that no President has granted amnesty in more than five years, a disturbing precedent in a democratic system where the prerogative of mercy is intended to be a vital tool for correcting systemic injustices and demonstrating compassion.
“With the change in the law, all persons convicted of offences under Act 29 which used to carry the death sentence, are now given life imprisonment. That is a remarkable change. But for those already on death row, we need to bring finality to their status.”
Hon. Francis Xavier Sosu, MP for Madina Constituency
The human rights lawyer and MP further recommended that inmates who have spent more than 15 years on death row should be given definite terms to allow for meaningful rehabilitation and reintegration planning.
“I respectfully believe they must be given definite terms. I suggest 25 years in hard labor as a fair and humane alternative. The purpose of a criminal justice system is to reform people. Let’s give them a second chance.”
Hon. Francis Xavier Sosu, MP for Madina Constituency
Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution gives President Mahama, who came back to power after being re-elected in a historic victory during the 2024 general elections, the constitutional authority to use the prerogative of mercy.
Call to Action
In light of systemic change, Hon. Sosu’s appeal emphasises how urgent it is to use that authority as a necessary tool for justice rather than as an exception.
Hon. Sosu’s call for this action places him in line with a larger restorative justice movement, which recognises the human dignity of all people, including those who have committed serious crimes, and aims to replace retaliation with rehabilitation.
His appeal is made at a time when there are growing calls for reform, reinvestment in rehabilitation, and respect for human rights, all of which are aimed at improving the criminal justice system.
Hon. Sosu’s proposal is not only morally grounded but also legally prudent, as without the President’s intervention, inmates on death row remain in a legal limbo—convicted under a law that has been repealed, serving a punishment that Ghana has officially rejected.
It is this contradiction that Hon. Sosu is seeking to resolve. Furthermore, the MP’s suggestion to assign a fixed sentence of 25 years to long-serving death row inmates reflects a pragmatic approach that balances justice, deterrence, and compassion.
It offers a second chance to those who have endured decades of psychological trauma under death watch, while maintaining the severity appropriate for serious crimes.
President Mahama, who campaigned on a platform of equity and national renewal, is now being called upon to demonstrate that vision in action.
Therefore, Francis-Xavier Sosu’s advocacy is a clear call to action for President Mahama to uphold the spirit of the law and give hope to those who have long been forgotten behind prison walls.
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