Edmond Gyebi
10 July 2009
Tamale — A 74 year old man in the Tamale Central Prisons, Kwadwo Manu, who has been condemned to death and is awaiting the President's pleasure since 1980, is calling on the President, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills, to give him presidential pardon.
The condemned prisoner, who is a native of Akim Tweapease in the Ashanti Region, was sentenced to death for murder.
However, he said, "I know I have been condemned by a court, but I know for sure that God who created me has not yet condemned me. If indeed, the President will give me just one week to go back and stay with my children like a father again, I will be a happy man and die in peace."
Mr. Kwadwo Manu, who is currently suffering from a heart attack, told the Northern Regional Minister, Stephen Sumani Nayina, who had paid a working visit to the Tamale Central Prisons to personally intervene for his release, to prevent him from dying in prison.
His colleague inmates and some prison officers told Northern File that Mr. Kwadwo Manu had been at the forefront of propagating the word of God in the prison.
However, his current health condition seems to deteriorating day-after-day, due to the kind of food being served in the prison, and the congestion in the rooms.
Responding his plea, Stephen Sumani Nayina, who was apparently sympathising with the oldest prisoner ostensibly due to his age and health condition, said he wished he had had control over the laws to enable him free Kwadwo Manu.
The Minister, however, promised to send his plea to the presidency for consideration.
"Prison is for the reformation of minds and attitudes, thus, I don't need any person to tell me that this man is reformed, because even at his age, there is nothing bad he can do. But, as you and I all know, it is only the President, John Evans Atta Mills, who can pardon him, and I know it is possible," the Minister said.
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