A former representative for Tamale Central, Inusah Fuseini, has stated that he agrees with proposals to abolish the death penalty in Ghana.

He thinks that since the current law is already unnecessary, getting rid of it is the best course of action.

The former MP argued that the death penalty's original purpose no longer applied in an interview with Citi TV because those caught in such webs now need to be treated with compassion.

“I stand for the abolition of the death penalty. Evidence abound that many people have been subjected that penal punishment when subsequent evidence exonerates them. That is number one. Number two, that is the old law where it says death for death, an eye for an eye. No.

“You should look at the Bentham Theory. There must be utility for a punishment. Why are we punishing a person? We punish the person to reform, so if we kill that person, we deny that person the opportunity to reform. The reformative aspect of punishment is something that should engage our thinking and our understanding. People have committed grievous offenses need compassion; need our love; need empathy and so you sentence them to death, they are hanged or shot, and then is that compassion?”

“Thirdly, I don’t know the last time anyone who was sentenced to death was ever killed. So, the language at the Nsawam is under debilitating conditions, we treat them in an inhuman way. The constitution says that the dignity of a human being is invaluable, meanwhile, go and see them,” he stated.

MPs divided over a proposal to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment

The media covered a noteworthy event on Friday, July 14, 2023, where Members of Parliament (MPs) in Ghana found themselves in disagreement over the report presented by the Constitutional, Legal, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee regarding an amendment to the Criminal Offences Act.

The proposed amendment seeks to replace the death penalty with life imprisonment as a punitive measure.

Historically, the death penalty was inherited from the colonial era, serving as a punishment for crimes such as murder, attempted murder, genocide, piracy, and smuggling of precious minerals like gold or diamonds. However, Ghana has abstained from executing offenders since 1993.

During the parliamentary debate on the amendment bill, MPs voiced diverse opinions regarding the abolition of the death penalty.

Cletus Avoka, the MP for Zebilla Constituency, voiced his concerns, stating, "I first submit that the arguments they have advanced in terms of the motion are very scary and have no measures at all. Arguments in favor of the motion are unmeritorious."

On the other hand, Francis-Xavier Sosu, the MP for Madina and a proponent of the amendment, emphasized Ghana's current stance, saying, "the current position of Ghana is that we are abolitionists in practice. This is so because, since 1993 to date, Ghana has not signed a death warrant to execute anyone, and that is very commendable."

During the debate, James Agalga, the Builsa North MP, and Habib Iddrisu, the Second Deputy Majority Whip, pointed out a correction, stating, "We cannot count universal declaration on human rights as part of our treaty obligations with the greatest of respect. The universal declarations on human rights are declarations; they are non-binding, and so they do not qualify as a treaty."