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THE DEATH PENALTY IN GHANAUpdated March 2011

Ghana is abolitionist in practice. The last execu-tions took place in July 1993; at that time, 12people were shot for armed robbery or murder.Ghana still retains the death penalty in law forarmed robbery, treason and first-degree murder.The method of execution is shooting.In April 2000, 100 people had their death sen-tences commuted to life terms.In February 2001, the Minister of Justice, NanaAkufo-Addo, declared that he was not personally in favor of the death pen-alty, while stressing that this was not necessarily the government's position.The most recent death sentence was given in February 2002. Edward AnimDensu was sentenced to hang by the Koforidua High Court. His sentencewas later commuted to life in prison.As of March 2006, there are 152 prisoners on Ghanas death row.On March 6, 2007 Ghanas President, John Kufuor, freed or commuted thesentences of 1,206 prisoners to mark the 50th anniversary of independenceOn December 18, 2008 Ghana abstained on the Resolution on a Morato-rium on the Use of the Death Penalty at the UN General Assembly.A Constitutional Review Commission is currently looking at ways to improvegovernance in Ghana. Abolition of the death penalty could be one of thechanges made.

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TAKE ACTION TO SUPPORT DEATH PENALTY ABOLITION IN GHANA!Updated March 2011

Sign and mail the attached form letter, or write your own letter using some or all of the followingpoints:

As part of the Constitutional Review process, abolition of capital punishment is under considera-tion16 member states of the African Union (AU), include Ghanas neighbors, have already abolishedthe death penaltyMore than two-thirds of the worlds countries that have abolished the death penalty in law or prac-ticeThe last execution in Ghana took place in 1993, so many would consider Ghana abolitionist inpracticeThe African Commission on Human and Peoples Rights has called on AU member states to abol-ish the death penaltyIn 2010, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted a resolution calling for all nationsto establish a moratorium on executions as a first step towards abolishing capital punishment with109 votes in favor to only 41 against with 35 abstentions.Abolition of the death penalty in Ghana will not only be a major victory for human rights world-wide, but will give new hope and inspiration to those seeking to improve the quality of criminaljustice in the United States, and other countries where capital punishment is still in use.

Mail letters to:His Excellency Professor John Attah MillsThe PresidentRepublic of GhanaThe Castle,Osu, Accra ,GhanaProf. Albert FiadjoeThe ChairmanGhana Constitutional Review Commission16, 5th Link Cantonments,P. O. Box CT 1619Accra, Ghana

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His Excellency Professor John Attah Mills

The President

Republic of Ghana

The Castle,

Osu, Accra ,Ghana

Prof. Albert Fiadjoe

The Chairman

Ghana Constitutional Review Commission

16, 5th Link Cantonments,

P. O. Box CT 1619

Accra, Ghana

Dear President Mills and Chairman Fiadjoe,

I am writing to urge you to endorse abolition of the death penalty in Ghana. I under-stand that as part of the Constitutional Review process, abolition of capital punishment

is under consideration and I believe that, as the world continues to move away from the

death penalty, now is the perfect time for Ghana to end executions of prisoners.

16 member states of the African Union (AU), include Ghanas neighbors, have already

abolished the death penalty, joining the more than two-thirds of the worlds countries

that have abolished it in law or practice.

Although there are over 120 prisoners on death row in Ghana, the last execution took

place in 1993, so many would consider Ghana abolitionist in practice. The next logical

step will be to formally abolish the death penalty in law.

Such a step will have the support of the regional and international community. The Af-

rican Commission on Human and Peoples Rights has called on AU member states to

abolish the death penalty. And, beginning in 2007, the United Nations General Assem-

bly (UNGA) has adopted resolutions calling for all nations to establish a moratorium on

executions as a first step towards abolishing capital punishment. In 2010, the most

recent such resolution on ending passed with a 109 votes in favor to only 41 against

with 35 abstentions.

As a resident of the United States of America, I believe abolition of the death penalty in

Ghana will not only be a major victory for human rights worldwide, but will give new

hope and inspiration to us in our efforts to improve the quality of criminal justice here

in the United States.

Sincerely,