The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has granted high-level amnesty to eight-hundred and eight (808) convict prisoners.

The decision according to a press statement signed by the Director General of Prisons, Patrick Darko Amissah confirmed the judgment as part of actions to restrain the life intimidating COVID-19 disease in the country.

Ghana’s confirmed cases as at Thursday morning, March 26 2020 was 132 with four deaths and one recovery. 

Per the directives of the president and by the recommendation of the Prison Service Council in consultation with the Council of State, in accordance with Article 72 (1) of the Constitution, the president granted the pardon.

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 The categories of convicts released are;783 first offenders, 11 seriously ill convicts, seven inmates on death row to be commuted to life imprisonment, four inmates serving life sentence to have sentence commuted to 20 years’ definite term and three very old prisoners who are 70 years and above.

The statement revealed that the first offenders totaling 783 who have served half of their sentence, 11 seriously ill prisoners ad three aged prisoners are to be released outright whiles seven prisoners on death row would have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.

Four prisoners serving life sentence will be commuted to twenty years definite term.

Full Statement: