Four condemned lifers at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison have petitioned the Human Rights Court, alleging unconstitutional conduct by the Ghana Prisons Service after they were unable to attend a scheduled court hearing.
The inmates — Felix Dzifa Abusa, Donglik Konkouk, Kweku Awuku and Richard Annan Asmah — filed Suit No. HR 0038/2026 at the Human Rights Court Division of the Judicial Service in Accra on November 25, 2025.
The suit challenges what they describe as the imposition of an additional definite 20-year sentence following the August 2025 Amnesty Panel, headed by Chief Superintendent James Afoakwa.
In a letter dated February 24, 2026, addressed to the Human Rights Court and copied to several high-profile offices, including President John Dramani Mahama, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, the International Court of Justice, and the Attorney-General, the inmates explained their absence from court on February 23, 2026.
According to the letter, the Human Rights Court had scheduled the matter for hearing on February 23 after the defendants allegedly failed to enter appearance despite being served twice.
The plaintiffs said they subsequently filed a hearing notice on February 6, 2026, which they claim was duly served on the Director-General of Prisons by a court bailiff.
However, on the day of the hearing, the inmates said prison authorities informed them that no hearing notice had been received directing that they be conveyed to court.
They claim both subordinate officers and the officer designated as third-in-command at the facility stated that the prison had not been notified by either the court or the Director-General.
The inmates maintain that their failure to appear was not deliberate but due to circumstances beyond their control.
They are therefore praying the Human Rights Court not to dismiss the case and to summon the Director-General of Prisons to explain, in their presence, why it is being asserted that no hearing notice was served.
They further requested that the court reaffirm its directive that a government vehicle be provided to transport them to court for the hearing of the matter.
The plaintiffs argue that any refusal to honour service of court processes or to comply with directives of the court undermines the authority vested in the Judiciary under the 1992 Constitution, particularly Article 72(1), which relates to the exercise of the presidential prerogative of mercy.
They attached photocopies of the official court search and the hearing notice, which they say confirm that the Prisons Service was duly served.Copies of their petition were also sent to the Director-General of the Ghana Prisons Service, the Registrar of the Human Rights Court and the media.
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