The decision by President John Dramani Mahama to grant amnesty to 998 prison inmates has sparked heated public debate in Ghana. While some critics argue that the move was politically motivated, the High Commissioner-designate for South Africa, Mr. Benjamin Kofi Quashie, has strongly defended the decision, describing it as a constitutional requirement rather than a partisan gesture.
Amnesty Is Constitutional, Not Political
Speaking on the AM Show on Joy News on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, Mr. Quashie dismissed claims that the president’s action was intended to benefit prisoners perceived to be aligned with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
He stressed that the power to grant amnesty is clearly enshrined in the Constitution, and President Mahama was only exercising his legal authority. According to him, politicizing such decisions undermines the credibility of constitutional provisions.
On Calls to Publish the Amnesty List
Mr. Quashie criticized those demanding that government publish the full list of beneficiaries, labeling the calls as biased and disingenuous.
“When President Akufo-Addo granted amnesty in this country, no NDC member ran the kinds of commentaries we see today. No one asked the president then to publicize the list. Why today?” he quizzed.
This, he argued, reveals a double standard in the way different political administrations are treated.
The Process of Granting Amnesty
Outlining the procedure, the diplomat-designate explained that presidential amnesty follows an elaborate review process:
- It begins with recommendations from the Council of State.
- The request is reviewed by the Prisons Service Council.
- The final decision is authorized by the President.
“The president doesn’t grant amnesty on a whim but only after a thorough and elaborate process has been finalized,” Mr. Quashie clarified.
Beyond the legal arguments, Mr. Quashie reminded Ghanaians that prisons should not be seen solely as institutions of punishment. Instead, they should function as centers for reformation and reintegration.
“Let us, as a nation, believe our prisons shouldn’t be just places of punishment but also places for reform. If the Prisons Council has determined that these inmates are reformed and need reintegration into society, let’s take the politics out of it,” he emphasized.
He argued that if inmates are deemed ready to rejoin society without posing risks, then their release should be viewed as a positive step towards rehabilitation and nation-building.
Addressing concerns about transparency, Mr. Quashie noted that while the government is not obligated to publish the list publicly, the information is available for those who seek it.
“I’m sure the list of beneficiaries is with the Service, and anyone who wants to peruse it can request it from the Prisons Service,” he stated.
He concluded that the framers of Ghana’s Constitution deliberately left out the requirement to publish names, suggesting that confidentiality protects both beneficiaries and their families from unnecessary stigma.
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