Remove death penalty from the law books - CHRAJ

The Commission On Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) on Thursday reiterated its stance against the death penalty and said it should be removed from the statutes books.

"When we contrast the theory with the practice, there is no leaning towards the implementation of death penalty in Ghana," a Deputy Commissioner, of CHRAJ, Mrs Angelina Mornah Domakyaareh, said.

She was speaking at a three-day Southern Zone Workshop organised in Accra for Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) involved in human rights activities.

She said: "It is the Commission's belief that the death penalty, whether by hanging, shooting, lethal injection or electrocution, is savage, barbaric and amounts to torture (and) cruelty, and inhuman treatment or punishment."

Mrs Domakyaareh who spoke on the topic: "The Concept of Fundamental Human Rights and Freedoms" said CHRAJ is against the death penalty in all cases without reservation, though some may differ especially in view of the recent spate of armed robberies and serial killings of women.

The Deputy Commissioner said the 1992 Constitution absolutely and unconditionally prohibits such treatments.

According to her, empirical evidence from countries has shown that the main justification for the death penalty, namely, the deterrent effect, is not achieved by the executions of persons sentenced to death.

Criminal justice, Mrs Domakyaareh said, is a human institution and, therefore, there is the possibility of a mistake whereby an innocent person could be sentenced to death and executed.

"And if the mistake is subsequently discovered, how can adequate compensation be provided? What quantum can you put on life?" she asked.

The Deputy commissioner, however, noted that though the courts continue to pass the sentence of death by hanging, no such executions have been made since 1968.

Touching on the three most topical issues, democracy, human rights and the environment, Mrs Domakyaareh said though human rights are the most discussed they are the most misunderstood concept.

She said this stems from the fact that CHRAJ continues to receive petitions or complaints that have no bearing on human rights issues and the work of the commission.

She, therefore, called on NGOs participating in the workshop to better articulate the values of human rights in the society.