One thousand and twenty-one prisoners are to be released from the country's prisons following a pardon granted them by President John Evans Atta Mills on the occasion of the centenary birthday of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. Beyond the humanitarian gesture, the move will also help ease the congestion at many of the country's prisons, a situation that has created a major strain on justice delivery in the country. Those who have regained their freedom are 953 first offenders who have served at least half of their sentences, 54 seriously ill prisoners recommended by the Regional Medical Board, nine prisoners aged 70 and above also recommended by the Regional Medical Board, and five nursing mothers who have shown remorse. Six other prisoners, who were on death row and had served 10 years and above, have had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. A statement signed by the Interior Minister, Mr Cletus Avoka, and released in Accra yesterday did not name them but said President Mills granted the amnesty in accordance with the powers conferred on him by Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution. Article 72 (1) states inter alia that "the President may, acting in consultation with the Council of State grant to a person convicted of an offence a pardon either free or subject to lawful conditions; or…” The statement said the decision of the President was also based on the criteria laid down by the Prisons Service Council. It said the Director-General of Prisons had been directed to implement the amnesty. Reacting to concerns that the first offenders could include armed robbers, the Interior Minister told the Daily Graphic that prisoners convicted of murder, armed robbery, rape, defilement, narcotics, treason, subversion and piracy were not included in the first offenders category. He explained that those to benefit included those convicted of minor crimes such as stealing and causing harm. He said those affected were those who were likely not to re-offend based on the assessment of the prison officers and the officers in charge of the Prisons. Mr Avoka gave the assurance that no hardened criminal would be released as the selection process was meticulous. As to whether the assessment and selection process would be an avenue for prison officers to mine gold from prisoners and their relatives, a source at the Ghana Prisons Service answered in the negative. It said oftentimes, prisoners accused prison officers of crimes they knew nothing about and would, therefore, not do anything that could be proven against them. Source: Daily Graphic/Ghana