A clergy and head pastor of the Throne Room Church, Rev De-graft Aggrey on a recent debate presented before parliament on the proposal for the abolishment of the death penalty sentence of the Criminal and Other Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) and Armed Forces Act, 1962 (Act 105), has said that the punishment is not unbiblical.
The crimes punishable by death according to the constitution of Ghana are treason, murder and genocide. Rev Aggrey explained that the Bible does not speak against death penalty, stating that ‘‘In fact there are more than fifteen verses in the scriptures about punishment by death’’. He made this assertion on the Melody Newspaper Review Show in an interview with Nhyira Kwabi.
In his opinion, all the former heads of state who refused to sign the order after the court verdicts did not do so out of religious conviction but rather, personal conviction. Rev Aggrey added that any head of state or soldier who executed the order has committed no sin.
However, a social commentator, Charles Mintaba on the Review Show expressed his view that the law need to be amended since no head of state is willing to sign to carry out the sentence. Mr. Mintaba explained that, the culprits are left to walk about in the prisons.
He expounded that amending the death penalty would not cause fear among citizens for unfair justice, but delayed justice with the Judicial system in the country is rather causing citizens to lose faith and trust in the law, law enforcers and interpreters.
The social commentator stated that ‘‘the last time the sentence was carried out was during the military regime, about hundred and sixty people have been sentenced to death since 1993 but no head of state has signed the order.’’
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has deferred the debate on whether or not Ghana should abolish the death penalty from its statutes. This move is to allow for more consultation and more Members of Parliament (MPs) to debate the proposed amendment before a decision is taken on the bill.
Though some Majority MPs agreed with their colleagues on the Minority side, for the passage of the bill, it was referred to a latter day as the debate on the issue deepened.
A private members bill, sponsored by MP for Madina, Francis-Xavier Sosu, is seeking to amend the Criminal Offences Act to abolish the death penalty and replace same with life imprisonment and reform the criminal justice system to meet the needs of emerging societies. The report of the Committee on Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs on the Bill recommended its passage because a stakeholder engagement with stakeholders revealed that “the death penalty should be replaced with life imprisonment”.
The Black Stars will open camp in Accra on Monday, November 11, 2024, to begin preparations for their final two 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifiers.
Otto Addo’s team will hold their first training session at the Accra Sports Stadium at 5:00 p.m. ahead of the matches against Angola and Niger.
Monday’s training session will be open to the media and fans, but Tuesday’s session will be held behind closed doors, according to the Ghana Football Association.
The team will travel to Luanda on Wednesday and hold their pre-match mandatory training at the Estádio 11 de Novembro.
The match against Angola will take place on Friday, November 15, in Luanda, before the Black Stars wrap up the qualifiers at the Accra Sports Stadium against Niger on Monday, November 18.
Ghana currently sits third in Group F with just two points from four games, and qualification is no longer in their hands.
The Black Stars must win their remaining matches and hope that Sudan, who have seven points, lose both of theirs in order to qualify.
As Ghana prepares for its upcoming 2024 elections, President Nana Akufo-Addo has issued a cautionary message to religious leaders regarding the increasing number of conflicting prophecies surrounding the electoral process. This warning comes at a time when prophetic support for various candidates is gaining visibility, notably for former President John Mahama.
One of the most prominent voices in this discourse is Prophet Clement, a respected spiritual leader known for his influential role in the community. Recently, Prophet Clement has made headlines by publicly declaring that he has received divine revelations affirming Mahama’s victory in the presidential race. He claims to have experienced visions of Mahama triumphing on ten distinct occasions.
In a recent public address, Prophet Clement shared his compelling visions, stating, “I have seen this several times. I saw Mahama’s face being painted with the Ghana map, and he was jubilating.” This vivid imagery has sparked discussions among citizens and political analysts alike, raising questions about the influence of spiritual insight on the electoral process.
The prophet has expressed a sense of divine mandate to pray for Mahama’s success and has indicated his readiness to support any candidate believed to be chosen by God. This endorsement comes at a critical juncture as President Akufo-Addo prepares to step down after two terms in office, following Ghanaian law that limits presidents to a maximum of two terms. This transition sets the stage for a highly competitive election as various candidates position themselves to fill the leadership void.
With the election date drawing near, anticipation is mounting across the nation. Ghanaians are encouraged to actively engage in political conversations that will shape the future of their country. As events unfold, the nation stands at a crossroads, and the outcomes of this electoral process are poised to influence Ghana’s political trajectory for years to come.
President Akufo-Addo’s warning serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between faith and politics in Ghana, urging both clergy and the public to approach the forthcoming elections with discernment and responsibility.
As prophetic backing for Mahama intensifies, many Ghanaians are closely monitoring the political landscape. The discussions surrounding Prophet Clement’s predictions have ignited both interest and debate within the electorate. Citizens are left to ponder the implications of these prophecies: Will Mahama’s candidacy align with the predictions of a certain victory, or could the election result in a surprising shift, bringing a different leader to the forefront?
Black Stars full-back Gideon Mensah has shared details about a potential transfer to FC Barcelona that fell through five years ago due to a breach of confidentiality. In 2019, while Mensah was with Red Bull Salzburg, he was offered a loan move to Barcelona as a backup for Jordi Alba.
However, news of the deal leaked, breaking the confidentiality agreement and ultimately leading to the transfer’s collapse a missed opportunity that Mensah recalls as deeply disappointing.Reflecting on the moment, Mensah said, “I couldn’t resist thinking about the next flight to Spain.
The next day, I saw the news everywhere in Ghana that Barcelona wanted me. So, I called my agent, asking him what happened to keeping it quiet.” His agent was also unaware of how the information got out, which led to the transfer unraveling.
Today, Mensah plays for French Ligue 1 side AJ Auxerre and has earned nearly 30 caps with the Ghanaian national team, the Black Stars.