Death Penalty In Ghana - The Facts

Abolished in practice

Current legislation: The death penalty still applies for various offences.

Appeals procedures :Condemned prisoners have the right to lodge an appeal with the Court of Appeal. If this is refused, they can appeal to the Supreme Court. The Ghanaian state gives itself the right to appeal even if the condemned refuse all initiatives of this kind in their favour. The Head of State can grant a pardon.

Most recent executions (to the knowledge of Amensty International[AI]): The last executions date from July 1993, when 12 people were shot for armed robbery or murder.

Most recent death sentences (to the knowledge of AI) :On 12 February 2002, Edward Anim Densu was sentenced to death by hanging by the Koforidua High Court. His sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment.

Most recent official position taken by the authorities: On 27 February 2001, the Minister of Justice, Nana Akufo-Addo, declared that he was not personally in favour of the death penalty, while emphasizing that this was not necessarily the government's position.

In fact, the government has never expressed a wish to abolish the death penalty. However, in recent years, there has been a relaxation of penal policy: in February 1997, seven people sentenced to death were released on health grounds and 15 had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.

In April 2000, 100 people sentenced to death had their sentence commuted to life imprisonment.

Most recent AI action :In 2000, AI published a report and took action requesting the new government of President Kufuor to initiate a national debate on the total abolition of the death penalty.