The Parliament of Ghana has passed a bill that effectively abolishes the death penalty in the country.
The bill was passed on Tuesday, July 25, and it gives the president the power to commute death sentences to life imprisonment.
The death penalty has been on the books in Ghana for over 50 years, but it has not been used since 1993. In recent years, there has been growing pressure from human rights groups to abolish the death penalty altogether.
The bill’s passage was welcomed by human rights advocates, who said it was a “historic moment” for Ghana. “This is a victory for human rights and the rule of law,” said Mawuli Adjei-Boateng, executive director of the Ghana Human Rights Commission. “It sends a clear message that Ghana is committed to upholding the highest standards of human rights.”
The bill’s passage is also a significant step forward for Ghana’s international reputation. The country is a signatory to the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which aims to abolish the death penalty. By abolishing the death penalty, Ghana is now in compliance with this international treaty.
The bill’s passage is a victory for all Ghanaians, who can now be assured that their lives will not be taken away from them for committing a crime.
It is a sign that Ghana is a progressive country that is committed to upholding the highest standards of human rights.
