Parliament’s Human Rights Committee has praised President John Dramani Mahama for granting amnesty to 998 prisoners across the country, describing the decision as a significant step toward promoting human dignity within Ghana’s justice system.
In a statement signed by Committee Chairman Ernest Yaw Anim, the gesture was hailed as both timely and necessary, given longstanding concerns over overcrowding and poor conditions in the nation’s prisons.
“We view this development with great excitement and appreciation, and consider it a shared commitment towards the advancement of human dignity,” the statement read.
The Committee recalled its 19 May 2025 working visit to the Nsawam Medium Security Prisons, where members reviewed conditions of confinement and called for urgent government action to improve facilities nationwide. It said the amnesty represented a welcome response to some of its earlier recommendations.
Despite the commendation, the Committee renewed calls for a revision of the daily feeding allocation for inmates, which currently stands at ₵1.80.
“We urge government to raise the allocation to a minimum of ₵5 to guarantee the rights of prisoners and ensure compliance with both local and international standards,” Mr. Anim emphasized, adding that such reforms were essential to building “a fairer, just and progressive society.”
