As the world prepares to mark the World Day Against the Death Penalty on October 10, Amnesty International Ghana has renewed calls for the total abolition of the death penalty in Ghana, urging the government to commute all existing death sentences to life imprisonment.
The call was made during the launch of the Amnesty International Ghana Chapter at the University of Ghana and the public presentation of findings from a joint research project by the University of Ghana and the University of Leicester on the well-being of persons on death row in Ghana.
The event, held at the University of Ghana School of Law Auditorium, brought together human rights advocates, academics, and students to discuss the human and constitutional implications of capital punishment.
The research, led by Professor Kofi Boakye from the University of Leicester and Professor Peter Atupare, Dean of the University of Ghana School of Law, revealed that individuals on death row face severe psychological and emotional distress due to prolonged uncertainty about their fate and the harsh conditions of confinement.
The findings also underscored Ghana’s progress toward abolishing the death penalty, following the recent presidential pardon of 998 prisoners and the increase in the daily feeding allowance for inmates from GHS 1.80 to GHS 5.00.
Speaking at the event, Country Director of Amnesty International Ghana, Genevieve Partington, commended the government’s recent steps to improve prison welfare but emphasised that systemic reforms remain essential to ensure justice and dignity for all.
“While we commend the government’s progress, it is time for Ghana to take a decisive step toward ending the death penalty. The right to life is non-negotiable, and our justice system must reflect that,” the Country Director stated.
Amnesty International Ghana urged the government to sign and ratify the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the key international treaty aimed at abolishing the death penalty, and to implement comprehensive prison reforms, including improved infrastructure, rehabilitation programmes, and better access to healthcare and legal support.
The launch of the University of Ghana Chapter marks a significant milestone in Amnesty International’s efforts to build youth-led human rights advocacy and promote civic engagement among students. The chapter is expected to serve as a platform for mentoring young advocates and expanding grassroots campaigns for justice and equality.
The initiative forms part of Amnesty International’s broader mission to safeguard human rights, ensure humane treatment of prisoners, and support Ghana’s ongoing transition toward a justice system that upholds the right to life and human dignity.
