President Mahama Grants Freedom To 998 Inmates

President John Dramani Mahama has granted amnesty to 998 inmates across Ghana’s correctional facilities.

The decision, announced in a statement from the Presidency on Monday, followed recommendations from the Prisons Service Council and consultations with the Council of State, in line with Article 72(1) of the 1992 Constitution, which empowers the President to exercise the prerogative of mercy.

Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications, confirmed the directive in the statement.

According to the release, the clemency applies to seven categories of inmates:

787 first-time offenders to be discharged,
87 death row prisoners to have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment,
51 inmates serving life sentences to have their terms reduced to 20 years,
33 seriously ill prisoners,
36 prisoners aged 70 years and above,
2 nursing mothers, and
2 other inmates granted clemency based on specific petitions.

The statement highlighted that humanitarian grounds played a significant role in the President’s decision. Out of 1,014 inmates recommended by the Prisons Service Council, 998 were approved.

The move is part of ongoing efforts to ease congestion in Ghana’s prisons while also responding to health, age, and humanitarian concerns.

Newspaper Review: Prez Mahama grants amnesty to 998 prisoners Daily Guide #AdekyeNsroma pic.twitter.com/Et9n25wRRR

— UTV Ghana (@utvghana) August 19, 2025

Source: Graphic Online