Parliament has passed the Criminal Offences Amendment Act, 2022 which seeks to replace the death penalty with a life sentence.
In Ghana, the death penalty is imposed after a conviction for murder, attempt to commit murder, genocide, or piracy and smuggling of gold or diamond.
However, some human rights activists have argued that the death penalty is too final and irreversible, thereby demanding a replacement with a life sentence.
Passing the bill, Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, said, “The Criminal Offences Amendment Act, 2022 is duly read the third time and duly passed.”
The Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo Markin says the passage of the bill calls for celebration as a country.
Advocate for the abolishment of the law and Member of Parliament for Madina, Francis Xavier Sosu after the amendment said, “I think that there have been very sound arguments in support of abolishing the death penalty, and the arguments are researched-based. The death penalty is too final. Parliament did what is required and made Ghana proud in the Committee of Nations by abolishing the death penalty. I think this is a good thing for Ghana,”
However, some individuals are of the view that the passage of the Criminal Offences Amendment Act 2022 could encourage citizens to take the law into their own hands.
