Ghana
Death penalty and prisoners' rights · Archive since 1999
Data card
- Legal status
- Abolitionist de facto
- Executions recorded in 2026
- 0
- Executions recorded in 2025
- 0
- First news item in the archive
- JANUARY 1, 1999 · Armed robbery, treason and first-degree murder are...
- News items in the archive
- 137
Source: Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026.
Ghana is classified as Abolitionist de facto in the Hands Off Cain database, updated to 2026. In 2026 the association recorded 0 executions in the country, against 0 the year before. The archive holds 137 news items on Ghana, from 1999 to today.
Latest news
JULY 7, 2015GhanaDEATH PENALTYGHANA: MAN, 59, SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING FOR KILLING GIRLFRIEND
A 59-year-old man who, out of jealousy, murdered his girlfriend at Atwima Techiman was sentenced to
JUNE 30, 2015GhanaDEATH PENALTYGHANA: PRESIDENT MAHAMA FREES 900 PRISONERS
President John Mahama has freed some 900 prisoners ahead of tomorrow’s Republic Day holiday.
APRIL 24, 2015GhanaDEATH PENALTYGHANA: 41-YEAR-OLD MAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
The Fast Track Division of the Accra High Court has sentenced a 41-year-old man to death by hanging.
MARCH 12, 2015GhanaDEATH PENALTYGHANA: FARMER SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
A Farmer has been sentenced to death by the Wa High Court after he was found guilty of murdering a 43-year old famer at Daffiama in the Upper West region.
- JANUARY 1, 2015GhanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been in Ghana’s statute books since the inception
The death penalty has been in Ghana’s statute books since the inception
- OCTOBER 27, 2014GhanaDEATH PENALTY
GHANA: A SURVEY SHOWS THAT 48% OF POPULATION IS IN FAVOR OF ABOLITION, 40% IS AGAINST
JULY 31, 2014GhanaDEATH PENALTYGHANA: FISHERMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
In Ghana, a Cape Coast High Court has sentenced a fisherman to death by hanging for setting ablaze five
JULY 25, 2014TogoDEATH PENALTYGHANA: TOGOLESE FARMER SENTENCED TO DEATH
In Ghana, a Kumasi high court, presided over by Justice Paul K. Richardson, has ordered a Togolese to die
- JULY 24, 2014GhanaDEATH PENALTY
GHANA: MASON SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDERING FRIEND
A 34-year-old mason from Bomfa in the Ejisu-Juaben Municipality, Ghana, has been sentenced to death by
- JULY 23, 2014GhanaDEATH PENALTY
GHANA: PRESIDENT MAHAMA GRANTS PARDON TO 21 DEATH ROW INMATES
A statement issued by Deputy Minister of the Interior James Agalga said the President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana had granted amnesty to 1,104 prisoners in commemoration of 54th Republic Anniversary which fell on 1 July.
- MAY 29, 2014GhanaDEATH PENALTY
the European High Court has dismissed an appeal against refusal of extradition to Ghana, where convictions
the European High Court has dismissed an appeal against refusal of extradition to Ghana, where convictions
MARCH 17, 2014GhanaDEATH PENALTYGHANA: DRAFT CONSTITUTION BILL PROPOSES TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
the Constitution Review and Implementation Committee (CRIC) submitted a draft bill for the amendment of entrenched provisions in the 1992 Constitution to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, the Chairman of the CRIC, Professor Emmanuel Victor Owa
- JANUARY 1, 2014GhanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been in Ghana’s statute books since the inception
The death penalty has been in Ghana’s statute books since the inception
- AUGUST 20, 2013GhanaDEATH PENALTY
a Tamale High Court, in Ghana, presided by Justice Lawrence Mensah
a Tamale High Court, in Ghana, presided by Justice Lawrence Mensah
- JULY 1, 2013GhanaDEATH PENALTY
President John Dramani Mahama granted amnesty to 870 prisoners to commemorate the 53rd Republic
President John Dramani Mahama granted amnesty to 870 prisoners to commemorate the 53rd Republic
APRIL 25, 2013GhanaDEATH PENALTYGHANA: GOVERNMENT COMMENDED FOR ACCEPTING TO ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY
The Amnesty International Ghana (AIG) commended government for accepting the
- JANUARY 1, 2013GhanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been in Ghana’s statute books since the inception
The death penalty has been in Ghana’s statute books since the inception
- OCTOBER 2, 2012GhanaDEATH PENALTY
a Sekondi High Court, in Ghana...
a Sekondi High Court, in Ghana...
SEPTEMBER 14, 2012GhanaDEATH PENALTYGHANA: COURT SENTENCES TWO TO DEATH BY HANGING
In Ghana, a Kumasi High Court, presided over by Justice Jacob Bawine Boon, has sentenced
- AUGUST 3, 2012GhanaDEATH PENALTY
the Koforidua High Court, Ghana, has sentenced four persons
the Koforidua High Court, Ghana, has sentenced four persons
- JULY 19, 2012GhanaDEATH PENALTY
GHANA: TWO BROTHERS SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
Two brothers, Ayitey Tetteh and Ayitey Angmor, have been sentenced to death in Koforidua
JULY 10, 2012GhanaDEATH PENALTYGHANA: GOVERNMENT ACCEPTS THE RECOMMENDATION TO ABOLISH THE DEATH PENALTY
the Government of Ghana, among many others, has also accepted the recommendation of the Constitution Review Commission that the death penalty in article 13 of the Constitution be completely abolished and that the penalty be replaced with imprisonment for
- APRIL 25, 2012GhanaDEATH PENALTY
a Koforidua High Court, in Ghana...
a Koforidua High Court, in Ghana...
- JANUARY 1, 2012GhanaDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty has been in Ghana’s statute books...
The death penalty has been in Ghana’s statute books since the inception of English common law in the country in 1874.
- DECEMBER 20, 2011IranDEATH PENALTY
GHANAIAN, AFRICANS EXECUTED IN IRANIAN PRISONS - AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
human rights advocacy group Amnesty International said at least one Ghanaian, Akwasi Aquwabe, was confirmed killed in Iran in 2010 in a mass execution at Vakilabad Prison in Mashhad.
- DECEMBER 20, 2011GhanaDEATH PENALTY
the Constitution Review Commission, constituted by President John Evans
the Constitution Review Commission, constituted by President John Evans
- JULY 27, 2011GhanaDEATH PENALTY
GHANA: WOMAN GETS DEATH SENTENCE FOR BUTCHERING RIVAL
the Bolgatanga High Court in Ghana, presided over by Justice Kumah, sentenced two people to death for murder. Lamisi Zong, a 32-year-old housewife of Datuko in the Talensi Nabdam District allegedly butchered her rival Teni Zong, 36, with a cutlass on May
- JUNE 20, 2011GhanaDEATH PENALTY
GHANA: FARMER SENTENCED TO DEATH BY HANGING
Justice George Kingsley Koomson of the Kumasi High Court in Ghana sentenced 53-year-old farmer Kwasi Bonsu, a native of Bomen, near Oyoko in the Ashanti Region, to death by hanging for murder.
- MAY 23, 2011GhanaDEATH PENALTY
GHANA: ABOLISH DEATH PENALTY, URGES AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Frank K. Doyi, from the Ghana Branch of Amnesty International urged Ghana to abolish capital punishment from the statute books.
MAY 16, 2011GhanaDEATH PENALTYGHANA: 123 PEOPLE ON DEATH ROW
the 2011 State of the World's Human Rights Report, which was launched by Amnesty