Hot Source…Lack of names & presence of two nursing mothers raise eyebrows
The Ghana Prison Service, has come under intense scrutiny, following the amnesty granted to 998 prisoners across the country, amid concerns over transparency and the presence of two nursing mothers among the beneficiaries.
While the Presidency, has framed the mass release as a humanitarian exercise to decongest overcrowded prisons, the absence of a published list of beneficiaries has triggered public debate and speculation, with critics warning of potential security risks to communities where the ex-convicts may return.
The inclusion of two nursing mothers has also sparked controversy, prompting difficult questions about whether prison authorities properly investigated the circumstances surrounding their pregnancies, whether they became pregnant while in custody, or if they became pregnant prior to their convictions.
In a recent high-profile case involving evangelist Patricia Asiedua, alias “Agradaa” or “Evangelist Mama Pat”, the trial judge, Evelyn Asamoah of the Accra Circuit Court, ordered a pregnancy assessment before sentencing; however, it remains unclear whether similar checks were conducted in these cases.
In past amnesty exercises, the identities of beneficiaries were made public, reassuring communities and dispelling rumours, including the inclusion of unapproved beneficiaries.
However, the failure to do so this time prompted speculation that high-profile convicts, including former Capital Bank founder William Ato Essien and Agradaa, might have benefited, though there has been no official confirmation.
The Presidential Spokesperson, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, who issued the statement, had to come out to deny that the two individuals benefited from the amnesty.
William Ato Essien, the former chief executive officer of the now-defunct Capital Bank, was convicted in April 2023 for misapplying liquidity support from the Bank of Ghana and sentenced to 15 years in prison on October 12, 2023.
Agradaa is yet to serve even six months of her 15-year jail term, after being found guilty of two counts of defrauding by false pretences in July this year.
President John Dramani Mahama’s decision, announced on Monday, 18 August 2025, followed recommendations from the Prisons Service Council and consultations with the Council of State, in line with Article 72(1) of the 1992 Constitution. Out of 1,014 inmates proposed, 998 were approved, making it one of the most extensive presidential clemency exercises in recent years.
Figures released by the Presidency indicate that 787 of the beneficiaries are first-time offenders.
In addition, 87 prisoners on death row will have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment, while 51 serving life sentences will have theirs reduced to a fixed term of 20 years.
The list also covers 33 prisoners classified as seriously ill, 36 convicts aged over 70, and the two nursing mothers. Two others were granted clemency on compassionate grounds after their petitions were reviewed.
The government has defended the move as an act of mercy and a pragmatic step towards easing congestion in Ghana’s overburdened correctional system.
But for many Ghanaians, unanswered questions, especially regarding the pregnancies in custody and the secrecy surrounding beneficiaries, have cast a cloud over what should have been a moment of relief and compassion.
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