863 CONVICTS WIN MAHAMA’S FREEDOM LOTTERY

Death Row Inmates Spared, 819 First Offenders Walk Free, 13 Elderly Released in Sweeping Presidential Mercy.
President John Dramani Mahama has granted presidential pardon to 863 convicted persons in commemoration of Ghana’s 70th Independence Anniversary, marking the milestone with what the Presidency described as an act of mercy and national reflection.
In a statement issued by the Presidency on Monday, October 5, 2026, the President exercised his prerogative of mercy in accordance with Article 72(1) of the 1992 Constitution and following consultation with the Council of State.
The relevant state institutions have been directed to take the necessary steps to give effect to the President’s decision.

The Breakdown
The categories of persons granted the pardon are as follows:
· First Offenders (Outright Releases) — 819
· Very Old (70 years and above) (Outright Release) — 13
· Death Sentence to be commuted to Life Sentence — 11
· Seriously Ill (Outright Release) — 6
· Life Sentence Commuted to 20 Years Definite — 6
· Special Recommendation (Outright Release) — 2
· Petitions — 3
· Others — 3
· Total — 863
The pardon, the single largest in recent memory, spares 11 death row inmates from execution by commuting their sentences to life imprisonment, while six terminally ill prisoners are to be released outright on medical grounds. Six convicts serving life sentences will now serve 20 years definite.
The bulk of those freed 819 are first offenders granted outright release, a category that dominated the presidential clemency.

A Milestone of Mercy
The grant of pardon is made in commemoration of Ghana’s 70th Independence Anniversary, marking this significant milestone in the nation’s history with an act of mercy and national reflection.
The statement was signed by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, MP, Spokesperson to the President and Minister for Government Communications.

What It Means
Presidential pardons under Article 72 of the Constitution are exercised at the discretion of the President, acting on the advice of the Council of State. The prerogative extends to the granting of pardon, either free or subject to lawful conditions, to any person convicted of an offence.
For the families of the 863 beneficiaries, Monday’s announcement ends years of waiting and, in some cases, the threat of execution. For Ghana, the 70th Independence Anniversary clemency will be remembered as one of the largest single acts of presidential mercy in the Fourth Republic.
The Presidency did not provide names of the beneficiaries, but directed that state institutions proceed with the necessary administrative steps to effect the releases