72-year-old man finally freed after 51 years in jail for intervening in a fight

A 72-year-old man, referred to as Ola Amigo, has detailed his prison journey after spending 51 years behind bars for murder.

Initially sentenced to life imprisonment, he was later granted a presidential pardon by President John Dramani Mahama.

In an interview with a representative of the Prisons Public Relations Unit (PRU), Ola recounted that he was involved in a brawl where he hit the man to death, leading to his arrest and a death sentence.

He revealed that he spent 21 years at Nsawam Prison before being transferred to Kumasi Central Prison, where he completed the remainder of his sentence.

Recalling the incident that changed his life, he said, "I came here because of a fight. Someone was stabbing my friend with a bottle, and I asked him why he was doing that. He turned his anger on me and chased me with a bottle, so I hit him and he died. That brought me here."

President Mahama grants amnesty to 998 prisoners

Now free at 72, he expressed his desire to live a peaceful life dedicated to God: "I am 72 years old. I have spent 51 years in prison. I want to thank the President, and now that I am old, I can do the will of God."

He was one of 998 inmates granted amnesty as part of a presidential pardon initiative by President Mahama.

The initiative aimed to decongest prisons and give reformed inmates a second chance at life.

72-year old inmate at the Kumasi Central Prisons pardoned as part of President John Dramani Mahama’s presidential amnesty recounts his experience in prison, serving a total of of 51 years after being convicted to death for murder. pic.twitter.com/bx11wPWJmW

— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) September 3, 2025