President John Dramani Mahama has pardoned 863 convicted persons, including 11 prisoners whose death sentences are to be commuted to life imprisonment, in an act of mercy tied to Ghana’s 70th Independence Anniversary.
The Presidency announced the pardon on Monday, October 5, 2026, in a statement signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications.
According to the statement, Mr. Mahama acted under Article 72(1) of the 1992 Constitution after consulting the Council of State. The relevant state institutions have been directed to take the necessary steps to implement the decision.
First offenders make up the overwhelming majority. The statement lists 819 of them for outright release, about 95 per cent of the total by our calculation.
Thirteen inmates aged 70 and above, six seriously ill prisoners and two people under a special recommendation are also due for outright release. Six life sentences are to be commuted to 20 years definite. Three pardons follow petitions, and three fall under “others.”
Not everyone walks free. The 11 death sentences become life sentences and the six life sentences become 20 years, so those prisoners remain in custody. By our count, the categories marked for outright release total 840 people. The statement does not explain what the petitions and “others” pardons involve.
The Presidency describes the pardon as marking the anniversary with “an act of mercy and national reflection.” It does not say when the releases will begin, and it does not name any of those pardoned.
