Josiah
The Member of Parliament (MP) representing the Madina constituency, Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, is urging President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to convert the sentences of individuals on death row into life imprisonment.
In a petition dated October 11 addressed to President Akufo-Addo, the MP called upon the President to exercise his prerogative of mercy to transfer these individuals from death row.
Francis-Xavier’s request comes in the wake of the passing and approval of Private Member’s Bills aimed at amending the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and the Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105), replacing the death penalty with life imprisonment.
“I am writing on behalf of all 181 individuals currently awaiting execution in relation to the above matter. I respectfully appeal to your esteemed office to utilize your prerogative of mercy to commute the sentences of all individuals presently on death row to life imprisonment, as authorized under Article 72(1)(c) of the 1992 Constitution of Ghana. Your Excellency, Article 72 (1) (c) of the Constitution of Ghana, 1992, empowers you to: ‘Substitute a less severe form of punishment for a punishment imposed on a person for an offence,’ as stated in my petition,” he expressed.
Source: Omanghana.com
