Mahama grants amnesty to 13 first-time offenders at Wa Central Prison
Thirteen first-time offenders at the Wa Central Prison have been granted presidential amnesty by President John Dramani Mahama as part of the 2026 amnesty exercise.
The discharge ceremony, held on October 23, 2026, marked the reintegration of the beneficiaries into society.
Upper West Regional Prisons Commander, DDP Alhaji Ousmane Tasembedo, disclosed that 18 inmates were initially recommended to the prison headquarters for consideration. Of these, 13 received presidential approval in accordance with Article 72(1) of the 1992 Constitution.
However, only three beneficiaries were formally discharged during the ceremony because the other ten had already completed the required one-third of their sentences and been released through the normal discharge process before the amnesty approval arrived.
The Regional Commander described the amnesty as an opportunity for personal transformation and a fresh start, rather than simply freedom from imprisonment. He said the Wa Central Prison had successfully reformed and rehabilitated 34 inmates since 2024.
He added that two of the 13 beneficiaries had acquired vocational skills in smock sewing and tailoring while in custody. The prison authorities, he assured, would provide them with start-up materials to help them establish themselves after their release.
Daubile Alhassan Ibrahim, Assembly Member for Jonga and Chairman of the Wa Municipal Justice and Security Committee, who represented the Municipal Chief Executive, urged the beneficiaries to conduct themselves responsibly as they returned to their communities.
He cautioned that the presidential amnesty did not exempt them from prosecution for any future offences.
He warned that being granted amnesty would not prevent the law from taking its course if any beneficiary committed another crime.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, 39-year-old Yakubu Anas expressed gratitude to President Mahama for the opportunity to return to society. He also thanked the regional prison command for providing vocational training during their incarceration and pledged to apply the skills acquired while maintaining good behaviour.
Nuokpem Richard, who represented the families of the beneficiaries, also commended the government and prison authorities for equipping the inmates with practical skills.
He expressed hope that the beneficiaries would build on the training they received, pursue their goals and become productive members of society.
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