Ghana’s President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has granted pardon to first time offenders and other convicts numbering eight hundred and eight (808).

The presidential pardon was based on the recommendation of the Prison Service in consultation with the Council of State in accordance, in accordance with Article 72(1) of the 1992 Constitution.

Thus the convict pardoned consisted of 783 first time offenders, 11 inmate who are seriously ill, seven others on death row were committed to life imprisonment, four were on life sentence but given 20 years definite term while the three, were those above seventy years.

Patrick Darko Missah, Director-General of Prisons made this public in a press release dated March 26, 2020.

The release said: “The first offenders totalling 783 who have served half of the sentences, 11 seriously ill and three age (very old) prisoners are to be released outright. However, seven prisoners on death row would have their sentence commuted to life imprisonment while four prisoners serving life sentence will be commuted to 20 years definite term.”

By Bernice Bessey