Release Date: October 11, 2024
On October 10, The Inclusion Project hosted a virtual dialogue to commemorate the World Day Against the Death Penalty entitled- Abolition Wave in Africa: Challenging Misconceptions and Lessons for Nigeria. The dialogue hosted experts from Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and Nigeria to discuss the use of the death penalty and address the many misconceptions surrounding its abolition in line with the theme for the Day, “Challenging the misconception that the death penalty ensures public safety.”
Despite numerous assumptions and misconceptions about its efficacy, countries in Africa and around the world have moved to abolish the death penalty. Africa has made notable progress in distancing itself from capital punishment. Of the 55 member states of the African Union, 47.27% (26 countries) have abolished the death penalty, while 15 countries (27.27%) have implemented a long-term moratorium on executions, effectively halting its use. In contrast, 14 countries (25.45%) still retain and enforce the death penalty. These developments signal a growing wave of abolitionism across the continent, demonstrating that humane alternatives to the death penalty are not only possible but essential despite the misconceptions.
Pamela Okoroigwe, TIP’s director who moderated the session, stated that ‘Nigeria, the most populous African nation and often referred to as the “Giant of Africa,” remains one of the 14 countries in Africa that still retain the death penalty.’ This highlights the pressing need for reform and education regarding the ineffectiveness and challenges of capital punishment, emphasizing the growing realization that its continued use does not uphold justice or public safety. She also provided a summary of TIP research on an analysis of perceptions about the use of the death penalty as a capital punishment for offenders in Nigeria, showing over 60% of the respondents are against the use of the death penalty as a capital punishment.
The dialogue examined the experiences of experts from Ghana and Sierra Leone and how they worked to abolish the death penalty. The expert from Kenya discussed the strides that have been made in Kenya, and the expert from Nigeria presented the current situation in Nigeria. The discussion also debunked the belief that the retention of the death penalty deters crime and reduces insecurity.
Professor Vincent Adzahlie-Mensah, a former Amnesty International Board member and an advocate for the abolition of the death penalty in Ghana, confirmed that the crime rate in Ghana has not changed since the abolition bill was passed. He stated that responsible governments abolish the death penalty as part of their duty to safeguard the well-being of their citizens. Citing statistics, he noted that countries retaining the death penalty tend to have higher crime rates compared to those that have abolished it. Moreover, he stressed the importance of political will and collaboration with key stakeholders to advocate for the abolition of the death penalty. He explained that the death penalty disproportionately affects the poor, who often lack adequate legal representation, and spoke about its detrimental impact on the mental health of those affected.
Collins Okeke emphasized that, rather than relying on the death penalty, Nigeria requires a robust criminal justice system that focuses on proper investigation and crime reduction. He highlighted the challenges in Nigeria’s justice system, particularly its weaknesses and lack of capacity to apprehend criminals effectively.
Sierra Leone abolished the death penalty in 2021, followed by Ghana in 2023, and experts from both countries have observed no significant increase in crime rates. In fact, there has been a noticeable decline. Simitie Lavaly, Commissioner at the Human Rights Commission of Sierra Leone, addressed the myth that crime rates would rise without the death penalty, explaining how Sierra Leone successfully abolished it and confirming that no executions have taken place since then.
Gatambia Ndungu, a member of the Makwanyane Fellowship in Kenya, asserted that “the death penalty does not advance our criminal justice system.” He underscored the need for a more advanced system that utilizes effective strategies for crime reduction. He also expressed his grievances about the continued use of the death penalty in Kenya and outlined the efforts abolitionists in Kenya have made so far to advocate for its abolition.
We call on the Nigerian government to abolish the death penalty, as it does not deter crime or improve the justice system in Nigeria. Nigeria should set an example as the Giant of Africa by providing alternative punishments for capital offenses.
Signed
Bidwell Onyeakosi
Director