President Mahama Grants Amnesty to 998 Prisoners

Accra: President John Dramani Mahama has granted amnesty to 998 prisoners out of a total of 1,014 recommended. This decision was made following the recommendation of the Prisons Service Council and in consultation with the Council of State, in line with Article 72(1) of the Constitution. According to Ghana News Agency, a statement by Mr. Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the Presidential Spokesman and Minister of State in-charge of Government Communications, detailed the categories of convicts affected by the amnesty. Among them, 787 were first-time offenders. Additionally, 87 prisoners sentenced to death had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment, while 51 serving life sentences had theirs reduced to a 20-year definite term. Furthermore, the statement highlighted that the amnesty included 33 prisoners who were seriously ill, 36 prisoners over the age of 70 irrespective of their offences, two nursing mothers, and two cases processed through petitions.