The President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has granted amnesty to eight hundred and eight (808) convict prisoners.
The amnesty, according to a release signed by Director General of Prisons, Patrick Darko Missah, on Thursday, March 26, is upon recommendation of the Prisons Service Council and in consultation with the Council of State.
It said: The Categories of convicts affected are as below:
a. FIRST OFFENDERS – 783
b. SERIOUSLY ILL – 11
c. INMATES ON DEATH ROW TO BE COMMUTED TO LIFE IMPRISONMENT – 7
d. INMATES SERVING A LIFE SENTENCE TO HAVE A SENTENCE COMMUTED TO 20 YEARS DEFINITE TERM – 4
e. VERY OLD PRISONERS (7- YEARS AND ABOVE) – 3
The statement added, ” the first offenders totaling 783 who have served half of their sentences, eleven/11 seriously ill prisoners, and three/3 aged (very old) prisoners are to be released outright. However, seven/7 prisoners on death row would have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment; while four prisoners serving a life sentence will be commuted to twenty/20 years definite term.”
Below is the full statement;
