President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo upon the recommendation of the Prisons Service Council and in consultation with the Council of State has “already, in accordance with Article 72(1) of the 1992 constitution granted amnesty to 808 convict prisoners”.

The categories of the convicts to benefit from the amnesty include first offenders (783), seriously ill inmates (11), inmates on death row to be commuted to life imprisonment (7), inmates serving life sentences to have their sentences commuted to a 20-year definite term (4), and very old prisoners that is those who are 70 years and above (3).

The first offenders who have served half of their sentences as well as the prisoners who fall in the seriously ill category and those who fall in the aged category are to be released outrightly according to a statement signed by the Director-General of Prisons Mr Patrick Darko Missah.

However, the seven prisoners on death row would have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment, while the four prisoners serving life sentences will have their sentences cut to 20 years.