The President, John Dramani Mahama, has granted amnesty to 870 prisoners to commemorate the 53rd Republic Anniversary in accordance with Article 72 of the Constitution of Ghana and based on the criteria laid down by the Prisons Service Council.

A statement signed by the Minister for the Interior, Kwesi Ahwoi and copied to The Ghanaian Times, beneficiaries of the amnesty include 804 first offenders who have served at least half of their sentences.

About 33 prisoners who have been on the death row and served ten years and above, have had their sentences commuted to life imprisonment.

The statement said 10 seriously ill-prisoners and three prisoners aged 70 years and above and recommended by the Regional Medical Board are also beneficiaries of the amnesty.

It said 20 who were serving life sentences and have served at least 10 years and above have had their sentences commuted to a defined term of 20 years.

“The director-general of the Prison Service, has been directed to implement the amnesty,” the statement said.