The Parliamentary Human Rights Committee’s recent visit to the condemned block of Nsawam Medium Security Prison in the Eastern Region has reignited urgent discussions around presidential clemency and systemic issues within Ghana’s penal system. Apexnewsgh reports
The visit illuminated startling conditions as Members of Parliament witnessed heartbreaking scenes of 173 inmates on death row kneeling and pleading for mercy.
The emotional pleas from the inmates deeply affected the delegation, leading them to advocate for swift executive intervention. DDP Patrick Thomas Seidu, the Regional Commander of the prison, shed light on the myriad challenges facing the facility, particularly regarding the condemned block. He emphasized the desperate need to address the overcrowding crisis; originally constructed to accommodate 717 inmates, the prison now holds over 3,005 individuals, more than quadrupling its intended capacity.
In a poignant moment, renowned human rights lawyer and MP for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, directly appealed to President John Dramani Mahama to exercise his prerogative of mercy. He urged the president to consider granting amnesty to selected death row inmates, arguing that recent legal reforms in Ghana’s criminal justice system allow for new murder convicts to be sentenced directly to life imprisonment, thus bypassing the death penalty altogether.
Sosu highlighted the stark inequities facing those sentenced under the old regime, many of whom have languished on death row for 10 to 15 years or more—an issue he labeled a grave injustice. He explained that the previous system allowed death sentences to be commuted to life imprisonment after 10 years, followed by another decade before eligibility for a definitive term, often capped at 25 years.
“Continuing with this practice creates unfair disparities between inmates sentenced before and after the legal reforms,” he stated. He appealed for the president to commute sentences not only from death to life but to definite terms, such as 25 years for those already enduring extensive stays on death row.
The Human Rights Committee, supported by allied Members of Parliament, plans to submit a formal petition to the Attorney General and President Mahama, urging swift action on this crucial matter. Their goal is to ensure that justice is served in a humane manner, aligning with both constitutional values and international human rights standards.
This advocacy for clemency is part of a broader effort by the committee to improve prison conditions and uphold the inherent dignity of all inmates. By emphasizing compassion, dignity, and accountability, they aspire to nurture a penal system that protects the rights of incarcerated individuals while relentlessly pursuing true justice.
Source: Apexnewsgh.com
