By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
A 72-year-old man who spent more than five decades behind bars at the Kumasi Central Prisons has finally reunited with his family, following a presidential amnesty that has rekindled hope for second chances and national healing.
The former inmate, whose name is being withheld for privacy reasons, was convicted of murder in the early 1970s and sentenced to death. However, his sentence was later commuted to life imprisonment. For 51 years, he lived behind prison walls, enduring the harsh realities of incarceration while clinging to hope that one day he might taste freedom again.
His prayers were answered this year when President John Dramani Mahama granted a presidential pardon as part of a nationwide amnesty aimed at decongesting prisons and offering reformation opportunities to deserving inmates.
Heartfelt scenes unfolded across the nation as families embraced their loved ones again, following the President’s decision to grant amnesty to 998 prisoners. Moments of tears, joy, and fresh beginnings reminded Ghanaians that everyone deserves a second chance in life.
At the Kumasi Central Prisons, hundreds of inmates were seen in emotional scenes of reunion after their release under the latest presidential amnesty. Videos that surfaced on social media captured families and friends embracing their loved ones as they regained their freedom.
Speaking with emotion after his release, the 72-year-old described his journey as both painful and transformative.
“Prison took away my youth, but it also taught me lessons about patience, forgiveness, and endurance,” he said. “I am grateful to God, the President, and the prison officers who treated me with dignity all these years. Today, I feel like I have been born again.”
Family members, some of whom had not seen him for decades, received him with tears of joy and open arms. For them, the reunion was nothing short of a miracle, given that many had assumed he would never live to see freedom again.
The Ghana Prisons Service commended the decision, noting that long-serving inmates who have shown reform and discipline deserve opportunities to reintegrate into society. Officers also urged the public to welcome pardoned prisoners warmly, stressing that rehabilitation is more effective when ex-convicts feel accepted by their communities.
This latest amnesty is part of the government’s broader efforts to humanize the justice system, reduce overcrowding in prisons, and emphasize rehabilitation over retribution. It also aligns with calls from civil society for Ghana to move towards restorative justice practices that promote healing, reconciliation, and second chances.
As the elderly man settles into freedom, he says he hopes to spend his remaining years making peace with his past, reconnecting with family, and sharing his story as a testimony of resilience, forgiveness, and the power of mercy.
Watch the video below:
