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Parliament of Ghana has finally passed the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill 2022 to abolish the death penalty from the country’s law.
The amendment bill, which was front run by the Member of Parliament of Madina Constituency, Francis Xavier Sosu, received approval on Tuesday, July 25, 2023, awaiting President Akufo-Addo’s assent.
By the Bill, when assented, the President will become the first leader in the Fourth Republic to sign the bill and no offender will suffer punishment by death.
Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, expressed satisfaction with the passing of the amendment, stating that it is a cause for celebration, particularly given the condemnation of the death penalty provision by international human rights institutions, deeming it repugnant.
“We have had a death penalty in our statute books for well over 50 years. It has been a concern. I’m happy to say that we have by this amendment of the parent act been able to repeal that provision that deals with the death penalty. So simply put, the death penalty is no more a punishment in our statutes.
What we are saying is that God gives us life and under no circumstances should a person’s life be taken merely because of committing such an offence. That is not to say that those who take it upon themselves to take the lives of others are being encouraged to do so,” the Effutu Member of Parliament stressed.
