The Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has commended Parliament for the historic repeal of the death penalty.
This provision which had been in Ghana’s statute books for over 50 years, was successfully repealed by the House on Tuesday, July 25, 2023.
The repeal marks a momentous shift towards valuing human life and embracing international human rights positions.
Afenyo-Markin emphasizes that the removal of the death penalty does not condone heinous crimes. Instead, the focus is on ensuring that offenders are not allowed to repeat such acts by introducing life imprisonment as an alternative punishment.
Addressing the Parliamentary Press Corps moments after the repeal of the death penalty provision, the Effutu MP said the shift to life imprisonment represents a crucial step towards adopting a more progressive and humane approach to criminal justice.
“….the focus is on valuing human life and ensuring that offenders are not allowed to repeat such acts by introducing life imprisonment as an alternative punishment.”
“The shift from the death penalty to life imprisonment represents a crucial step towards embracing international human rights positions.”
“Many human rights institutions around the world have deemed the death penalty as obsolete and incompatible with a progressive society. With this reform, Ghana joins the ranks of countries that seek to uphold human rights and provide an opportunity for rehabilitation rather than mere retribution,” he added.
The Deputy Majority Leader notes that many human rights institutions worldwide have deemed the death penalty as obsolete and incompatible with a progressive society. With this reform, Ghana joins the ranks of countries that seek to uphold human rights and provide an opportunity for rehabilitation rather than mere retribution.
The ongoing efforts to promote non-custodial sentencing are also highlighted, reflecting Ghana’s commitment to finding alternative ways to reform offenders without overcrowding prisons or denying citizens a chance at redemption.
Background
The Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2022, was laid in Parliament on July 25, 2022, and subsequently referred to the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs for consideration and report. The bill’s passage brings an end to the death penalty, which was imposed for crimes such as murder, attempted murder, genocide, piracy and smuggling of gold or diamonds.
The imposition of the death penalty was rooted in the retributive theory of punishment, based on the principle of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” However, concerns about due process, potential miscarriages of justice, and the irreversibility of the death penalty have led to global calls for its abolition.
Ghana’s decision to abolish the death penalty aligns with the Second Optional Protocol to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1989, urging the abolition of the death penalty for State Parties.
With this groundbreaking reform, Ghana reaffirms its commitment to human rights and joins the international community in promoting a more compassionate and just approach to criminal justice. The repeal of the death penalty represents a progressive step towards creating a more equitable and humane society.
