Chief Justice Gertrude Sackey Torkornoo has issued a reminder to judges and magistrates nationwide that attempted suicide is no longer classified as a criminal offense and, therefore, should not be prosecuted.
In an official letter dated October 18, 2024, Judicial Secretary Justice Cyra Koranteng notified all Circuit Court Judges and Magistrates of this change, citing the Criminal Offences Amendment Act of 2023. The letter clarified that, under the amended Section 57 of the Criminal Offences Act (1960) (Act 29) and Section 95 of the Mental Health Act (2012) (Act 846) through Act 1092, individuals who attempt suicide are exempt from prosecution or conviction.
The Chief Justice’s directive emphasized that all judges and magistrates must adhere to this amendment.
The decision to amend the Criminal Offences Act came in June 2023, when Parliament voted to decriminalize attempted suicide. This shift in the law means that individuals who attempt suicide are now recognized as needing mental health assistance rather than criminal punishment.
Previously, those convicted of attempted suicide faced sentences ranging from three months to two years in prison. The new amendment seeks to prioritize mental health support over punitive measures for individuals in crisis.
