By Nana Karikari
Analysis by Nana Karikari, Senior International Affairs and Political Analyst
In a chilling new report, Amnesty International has warned that state executions
worldwide have hit record highs for the first time in a decade. And the grim numbers
don’t lie, with visible executions topping 1,500 in 2024 alone. Iran, Iraq and Saudi
Arabia together accounted for the overwhelming majority. Separately, the United States’
execution of 25 people, again flips a coin for the continent of Africa, which is wrestling
with a dilemma over capital punishment.
Despite the uptick, the report offers a glimmer of hope: the number of countries that are
actually using the death penalty continues to be at a historic low of 15 for the second
consecutive year. This dichotomy has created a complex backdrop against which
Africans are increasingly re-evaluating their legal systems and societal values
concerning the ultimate punishment.
A Divided Continent: Discordant Journeys on the Death Penalty
The situation on the death penalty in Africa is not uniform. Most African countries have
either legally or practically abolished capital punishment, but a number of them still have
it within their statutes. Countries such as Sierra Leone, which recently abolished the
death penalty for all crimes, stand in stark contrast to nations like Egypt. The largest
Arab country, although not featured among the top executioners in the Amnesty report,
has executed more significant numbers historically. This dissonance is a reflection of a
continent that is coming to terms with colonial legacies, modern human rights norms
and vastly different socio-political settings.
Africa, however, remains less of the problem and more of the solution to global
executions, and if not careful might act as a natural balancing mechanism of the recent
global surge in executions. The Middle East, the epicenter of global executions,threatens to trap Africa in a “doom loop.” It could even end up being weaponized by
retentionist regimes in defence of national sovereignty, and the idea that only extreme
punishment can deter crime.
Global Developments and Human Rights Norms
Amnesty’s assessment, while documenting the staggering rise in executions, also
highlights a shrinking global club of executing countries. The latter finding supports the
broader phenomenon of abolition worldwide, thanks to changing human rights
standards and the growing view that capital punishment is an inhuman and degrading
punishment.
While these are not pressures confined to the African continent, African countries are by
no means immune from them either. Some international human rights bodies and
advocacy organizations are pressing African states to bring their legislative frameworks
in line with international norms. The low number of executing countries worldwide,
despite rising numbers, may offer further encouragement for abolitionist movements
across Africa, reinforcing their argument that capital punishment is increasingly an
outlier practice.
Social-Political Context and the Quest for Justice
Socio-political aspects are at the forefront of the death penalty debate in Africa. Crime
rates, the effectiveness of the justice system, and public opinion have long been central
to its policies. Retentionist states love to tout the claims that the death penalty is a key
deterrent to violent crime and reflects the will of the people. But critics argue against
those rationales, pointing to the fallibility of judicial systems and the threat of the
wrongful executions of innocent individuals, as well as the disproportionately damaging
impact of the death penalty on marginalized communities.
The rising number of executions, as well as the increase in judicial transparency of
these major Global South powers, particularly in the way they exercise their judicial
powers in Africa, will no doubt be a major source of concern as well. And that could
embolden groups calling for an end to the death penalty in their own countries.
Interregional Relations and the Contribution of Continental Institutions
The African Union and other regional bodies have also influence the on-going debate
around capital punishment. The AU has not taken a clear position on a continent-wide
stance against the death penalty, However, there are general AU attention to human
rights and good governance which can be framed under an insistence on abolition. The
stark diverging trends in the Amnesty International report, the worldwide increase in
executions alongside a dwindling club of executioners, may prompt renewed dialogue
across the continent.
It could even strengthen the case within the AU for its members to at least reconsider
their membership in the executioners’ club. For humanity, this can serve as a powerful
testament to the other countries that security and justice can be achieved
without capital punishment. This complicated dynamic fuels a particular debate as the
continent re-evaluates the death penalty amid a worldwide uptick in state executions.
Though the surge may provide a rallying point for retentionist arguments, the
simultaneous decline in the number of executing states, combined with mounting
international human rights standards and domestic socio-political factors, presents a
significant opportunity for African states to genuinely contemplate the course of
abolition. While Amnesty International’s report is seemingly a global concern, it signals
Africa is at a tipping point. It provides information that will likely ignite a debate that
could help determine the future of capital punishment across the continent.
Beyond Borders: Why Ghana Must Care About Global Execution Surge
This disturbing global surge in state executions should be of deep concern to
Ghanaians — not a cavalier observation. Although not geographically close to the
epicenters of this deadly phenomenon, the normalization and proliferation of
state-ordered killings anywhere in the world, compromises the universal tenets of
human rights principles. And Ghana, as a democratic country anchored on a rule of law
regime, must be concerned.
Also, for a continent often associated with capital punishment, Ghana included more
recently, the fact that the United States still practice it, while the trend is moving towards
abolition worldwide is a bitter pill to swallow. This international environment, seemingly
low-key in terms of its impact, may subtly bolster retentionists as part of a broaderdenial of past injustices. Ghana loses a fundamental part of its identity, catering for an
inclusive society through progressive values.
