Ghanaian High Court Sentences Six to Death by Hanging for Treason, Igniting Debate on Death Penalty

A high court in Ghana has handed down a historic death-by-hanging sentence to six individuals, including three soldiers, who were found guilty of plotting a coup against the government in 2019. This sentencing marks the first treason conviction in several decades in Ghana, a country known for its stable democracy. The case has sparked renewed calls from rights activists for the abolition of the death penalty. The group, which included a gunsmith, was arrested in 2021 while testing weapons in the capital city of Accra, allegedly with the intention of overthrowing President Nana Akufo-Addo's government ahead of the 2020 general elections.

Despite pleading not guilty during the trial, the court found them guilty of high treason and conspiracy to commit high treason. Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame, who led the prosecution, praised the court's verdict as significant, emphasizing that the constitution of Ghana "frowns seriously upon any attempt to overthrow a government." The conviction and sentencing have been described as a strong signal that such actions will not be tolerated. However, the defense lawyers have stated their intention to appeal the ruling in the Supreme Court.

The case has brought attention to the issue of the death penalty in Ghana, with Amnesty International's Ghana country director, Genevieve Partington, calling for its abolition. Last year, Ghanaian lawmakers amended the country's Criminal Offences Law to generally replace the death penalty with life imprisonment, although the death sentence remains a punishment for acts of high treason as provided in the constitution.

It is unclear whether the six individuals will actually be executed, as Ghana has not carried out any executions since the early 1990s. This case has reignited the debate on the death penalty and its place in Ghana's legal system, and has drawn attention to the continued fight to end this form of punishment in the country.