The Parliamentary Human Rights Committee's visit to the condemned block of the Nsawam Medium Security Prison in the Eastern Region has renewed calls for presidential clemency, highlighting urgent issues within Ghana’s penal system.

During the engagement, Members of Parliament witnessed heartbreaking scenes as many of the 173 inmates on death row knelt and pleaded for mercy.

The visible remorse deeply moved the delegation and sparked calls for urgent executive intervention.

The Regional Commander of the Nsawam Medium Security Prison, DDP Patrick Thomas Seidu, outlined some of the challenges faced by the prison service and, in particular, inmates on the condemned block.

He appealed to the committee to help decongest the overcrowded facility, which was originally built to house 717 inmates but now holds over 3,005—more than four times its intended capacity.

Renowned human rights lawyer and MP for Madina, Mr Francis-Xavier Sosu, made a direct appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to exercise his prerogative power of mercy and consider granting amnesty to selected death row inmates.

He argued that legal reforms in Ghana’s criminal justice system now allow recent murder convicts to be sentenced directly to life imprisonment, bypassing the death penalty.

In contrast, many individuals sentenced under the old regime have been languishing on death row for 10 to 15 years or more, creating what Sosu described as a grave injustice.

He explained that under the previous system, death sentences could be commuted to life imprisonment after 10 years, followed by another 10 years before eligibility for a definite term, often capped at 25 years.

He appealed to the committee to help decongest the overcrowded facility, which was originally built to house 717 inmates but now holds over 3,005—more than four times its intended capacity.

Renowned human rights lawyer and MP for Madina,  Francis-Xavier Sosu, made a direct appeal to President John Dramani Mahama to exercise his prerogative of mercy and consider granting amnesty to selected death row inmates.

He argued that legal reforms in Ghana’s criminal justice system now allow recent murder convicts to be sentenced directly to life imprisonment, bypassing the death penalty. In contrast, many individuals sentenced under the old regime have been languishing on death row for 10 to 15 years or more, creating what Sosu described as a grave injustice.

He explained that under the previous system, death sentences could be commuted to life imprisonment after 10 years, followed by another 10 years before eligibility for a definite term, often capped at 25 years.

“Continuing with this practice creates unfair disparities between inmates sentenced before and after the legal reforms,” he stated. “In keeping with the spirit and letter of Article 17 of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees equality before the law, we are appealing to the President to commute not just from death to life, but to definite terms—such as 25 years—for those already serving extensive periods on death row.”

The Human Rights Committee, together with allied Members of Parliament, plans to submit a formal petition to the Attorney General and His Excellency the President, urging swift consideration of the matter.

Their goal, they emphasized, is to ensure that justice is not only served but also done so in a humane and constitutionally sound manner.

This clemency advocacy for clemency forms part of the committee’s broader efforts to improve prison conditions, uphold the inherent dignity of all inmates, and achieve compliance with both Ghana’s domestic laws and international human rights obligations.

By emphasising these crucial elements, the committee aspires to foster an environment where the rights of incarcerated individuals are not only respected but actively protected, nurturing a penal system founded on compassion, dignity, and accountability—all in the relentless pursuit of true justice.