Commissioner of the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), Mr. Joseph Whittal has called for the annulment of the death penalty from the Criminal Justice System in Ghana.
Mr. Whittal who averred that campaigns for the amendment of the provisions in Ghana's Criminal Offences Act 1960 (Act 29), and Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105) are laudable, also asserted that the right to life is enshrined in the 1992 Constitution as the first right, and as commissioned by the Constitution to protect and promote the fundamental rights of all persons in Ghana, CHRAJ becomes an automatic natural ally in the fight for the abolishment of the death penalty.
He indicated that the Commission has over the years, in its Universal Periodic Review repeatedly, recommended that the death penalty is expunged from Ghana's Law Books.
Commissioner Whittal suggested that since the death penalty is seen as counterproductive, amending the enabling legislation to bring it down to life in prison, is something that should be considered in the interim, while effective and efficient measures are put in place to abolish it entirely from the Constitution.
He queried why Ghana, a nation known to be a beacon of democracy and good governance, still has the death penalty in It's Law Books even though nobody has been executed it since 1994.
Mr. Whittal commended the Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, who introduced the Private Members’ Bill, saying it is a good step in the right direction, and called on all stakeholders to galvanize efforts around the Bill through an effective advocacy tool like a memorandum in Parliament.
The CHRAJ Commissioner made the above remarks in an interaction with a delegation from the Amnesty International (AI), Ghana, who were paying a courtesy call on him to discuss AI’s advocacy campaign for the abolition of the death penalty in Ghana.
Miss Berlinda Asamayuah, the AI's Campaign and Communications Coordinator who led the delegation, appealed to Mr. Whittal to champion the advocacy. She admitted that though CHRAJ's mandates are broad, it was imperative for the Commission as the National Human Rights Institution mandated to promote and protect all fundamental rights, especially the right to life and dignity, which are ultimate, to lead the campaign to abolish the death penalty since this would strengthen AI’s efforts as well as provide technical assistance and expertise needed for the Bill to be passed.
Miss Asamayuah declared that AI is partnering with about 27 stakeholders who share similar vision in the protection of the right to life, to submit a memorandum in support of the Private Members Bill before Parliament towards the abolition of the death penalty.
She added that Amnesty International has paid courtesy calls on the President, the Speaker of Parliament, Faith-Based Organizations, and some Civil Society Organizations to appeal for their support to abolish the death penalty.
Present at the meeting were the Deputy Commissioners of CHRAJ, Mr. Richard Quayson, and Madame Mercy Larbi.
Latest Stories
-
Funny Face failed to perform at my show after taking money – Parrot Mouth
1 min -
CAFCC: Sports Minister to offer Dreams FC a ‘surprise’ package before Zamalek clash
13 mins -
CAF awards 3-0 win to RS Berkane, after Algerian customs confiscated their kits
27 mins -
AgriTech challenge pro holds first pitch
32 mins -
UNIDO commits to improving local rice standards
33 mins -
Suleja prison: 108 inmates on the run in Nigeria
36 mins -
We object to government’s plans to make BEST sole off-taker of Sentuo Oil Refinery – CBOD
44 mins -
Burkina Faso army massacred 223 villagers in revenge attack – HRW
53 mins -
Lebanese Community awards ¢100K in scholarships to 21 students at UniMAC
55 mins -
Germany detains alleged Nigerian mafia members
57 mins -
Manhyia Palace hosts royals, dignitaries from Ghana and beyond at special Awukudee
1 hour -
Meet the two Ghanaian entrepreneurs on a mission to connect 1 million African professionals to global companies by 2034
1 hour -
Celestine Donkor speaks on report of undergoing weight loss surgery
1 hour -
Music sensation Osb Swagah drops new single ‘Victory’
1 hour -
Bright Simons: The SML defence “falls flat”
2 hours