Chief Justice, Her Ladyship Gertrude Torkonoo has informed Judges that attempted suicide has been decriminalized in Ghana.
According to the letter directed to all Circuit Court Judges and Magistrates Her Ladyship Gertrude Torkonoo notified them that attempted suicide has been decriminalized by the Criminal Offences Amendment Act, 2023(Act 1092).
The letter also detailed that people who attempt suicide are no longer liable for prosecution and or conviction.
Reports by health practitioners suggest that nearly 70% of suicides in Ghana are committed by men.
Parliament amended sections of the Criminal Offenses Act of 1960, which makes attempting to take one’s own life a crime to be judged as having mental health issues requiring assistance by law rather than imprisonment.
See the full statement below:
Attempted suicide is no longer an offence – Chief Justice to judges pic.twitter.com/QUhdBPzsgu
— Serwaa Amihere (@Serwaa_Amihere) October 23, 2024