Death Penalty: Don’t Compare Ghana to America – Lawyer Adofo
Kwame Adofo, a private legal practitioner, has asserted that when discussing the abolition of the death penalty in Ghana, it is essential not to draw comparisons with the United States of America (USA) due to significant differences in their legal systems.
In an interview on Nkwantannanso with George Adjei on July 18, he emphasized that Ghana’s legal framework is distinct from that of the USA, making it necessary to craft a suitable law based on Ghana’s unique circumstances.
He pointed out that certain laws, such as the anti-gay law, might be suitable for the USA but not necessarily for Ghana.
“America is not a place to compare with Ghana. We need a law that will be suitable to us. Look at the anti-gay law; it is suitable for the USA but not for Ghana.”
Speaking about the implementation of the death penalty in Ghana, Mr. Adofo clarified that despite its existence in the country’s legal system, no one has been executed since 1990, even though some have been sentenced to death.
He also expressed concerns about the possibility of wrongful convictions, stating that Ghana’s legal system is not flawless and could lead to the inadvertent execution of innocent individuals.
“Our legal system is not perfect, so if we are not careful, we can kill someone who is not guilty, and we cannot bring the person back to life,” he said.
To address these potential issues, the lawyer advocated for the complete abolition of the death penalty from Ghana’s laws. He argued that such a measure would prevent any future president from authorizing the execution of someone who is under a death sentence.
Lawyer Adofo further raised concerns about the impact of the death penalty on marginalized groups.
He asserted that the current system favors the rich, as they have the financial means to pursue justice effectively, while the poor often suffer under such laws.
“Rich people have their cases heard in their favor; the poor usually suffer from such laws. When you have money, you can get your justice. If you don’t have, forget it.”
As of July 10, 2023, the official website of the Ghana Prisons Service reported that there were a total of 176 inmates on death row. Among them, 170 were male inmates, and 6 were female inmates awaiting execution.
Story by Adwoa S. Danso
