"Save The Lives Of 2 Ghanaians In Libya"-Amnesty Int. Tells Hon. Mumuni

The International Community, specifically, Amnesty International, Germany Branch is putting pressure on the Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Mohammed Mumuni, not to allow the Libyan government to execute two Ghanaian citizens, Kofi aka Obolo Boateng and Francis Kojo, who have been sentenced to death in Tripoli prison. A letter addressed to the Hon. Minister, and copied to PEACEFM, which is signed by an executive of the German branch of the Amnesty International, Ms. O Poettering says, her �organization and its over one million members worldwide oppose the death penalty in all cases and without exception.� According to them, �it is a violation of the Right to life and of the Right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. � The death penalty, the statement said, represents an irreversible act of violence by the state, and will inevitably claim innocent victims, as has been persistently demonstrated. According to them, studies have shown, that the death penalty, does not deter future crimes from being committed. They therefore called on Hon. Mohammed Mumuni to take all the appropriate measures with the Libyan government to prevent the two victims from being executed. They stated, "the internationally recognized standards for fair trials are rigorously respected for the appeal process, including the right to be giving an adequate opportunity for defence and appeal." Below is the statement from the Amnesty International in full. O. Poettering, Duvenstedter Triftweg 115, Hamburg, Germany Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration P.O. Box M53, Accra, GHANA 14 September, 2009 Dear Minister, According to information received by Amnesty International, two Ghanaian citizens, Kofi Aka Obolo Boateng and Francis Kodjo, were sentenced to death in June 2009 in Tripoli, Libya, for murder. They were convicted after an unfair trial and are now at risk of being executed. Both are held in Tripoli prison. Amnesty International and its over one million members worldwide oppose the death penalty in all cases and without exception, for it is a violation of the right to life and of the right not to be subjected to cruel, inhuman and degrading punishment. The death penalty represents an irreversible act of violence by the state and will inevitably claim innocent victims, as has been persistently demonstrated. Studies have also shown that the death penalty does not deter future crimes from being committed. I call on you to take all appropriate measures with the Libyan Government to ensure that Kofi Aka Obolo Boateng and Francis Kodjo will not be executed and that the internationally recognized standards for fair trial are rigorously respected for the appeal process, including the right to be given an adequate opportunity for defence and appeal. Yours respectfully, O.Poettering The international community.