President John Mahama has granted amnesty to 787 first-time offenders, marking the largest group of beneficiaries in the latest presidential pardon exercise.
The amnesty, announced on Monday, August 18, was based on the recommendation of the Prisons Service Council and consultations with the Council of State, in accordance with Article 72(1) of the 1992 Constitution.
In total, 998 inmates benefited from the exercise, either through release or sentence reduction.
According to a statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Minister of Government Communications and Presidential Spokesperson, the amnesty covered:
87 death row inmates, whose sentences were commuted to life imprisonment
51 inmates serving life sentences, reduced to 20 years
33 seriously ill prisoners
36 inmates aged over 70
Two nursing mothers
Two prisoners freed through petitions
Credit: myjoyojonline
