Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina, Francis Xavier Sosu, has appealed to President Akufo-Addo to commute all death row inmates' sentences to life imprisonment.

This move would align with Ghana's commitment to the Criminal Offences Amendment Bill 2022, which removes the death penalty from the country's laws.

On Tuesday, July 25, Parliament passed the bill, technically eliminating the death penalty from Ghana's legal system. Under the new law, the President will have the authority to change death sentences to life imprisonment.

In the past, the death penalty was part of Ghana's Criminal Offences Code but had not been implemented during the Fourth Republic.

Human rights advocates have long called for the abolition of the death penalty, and the passage of the bill marks significant progress in this regard.

Deputy Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin expressed satisfaction with the repeal, urging the nation to celebrate this important step.

MP Francis Xavier Sosu, who actively supported the bill, emphasized the importance of President Akufo-Addo's assent to the legislation and further appealed for the commuting of all current death row inmates to life sentences.

He believes this action will demonstrate a genuine commitment to moving away from state-sanctioned killing and towards a pro-life approach, while still denouncing acts of violence.