Did you know that until 2023, a person who attempted suicide in Ghana could be arrested, prosecuted, and imprisoned?
Under Section 57(2) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29), attempted suicide was classified as a misdemeanour. A person who survived a suicide attempt could therefore face criminal prosecution in addition to the emotional, psychological, and social challenges that may have contributed to the act.
This position reflected a colonial-era approach that viewed attempted suicide as a criminal offence rather than a mental health issue.
The 2023 Amendment
In March 2023, Parliament amended the law and removed criminal liability for attempted suicide.
The amendment marked a significant shift in legal policy. Rather than treating attempted suicide as a crime deserving punishment, the law now recognizes that individuals experiencing suicidal behaviour may require medical attention, psychological support, counselling, and other forms of intervention.
As President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo noted following the amendment:
“We took a significant step forward for mental health service delivery by decriminalising suicide in Ghana.”
If Attempted Suicide Is No Longer a Crime, What Happens Now?
A common misconception is that decriminalisation means the law simply ignores attempted suicide.
That is not the case.
The amendment shifted the response from punishment to treatment and support.
Under Ghana’s Mental Health Act, 2012 (Act 846), persons experiencing suicidal thoughts, severe emotional distress, or mental health crises may be assessed and referred for appropriate mental health care, counselling, treatment, rehabilitation, and support services.
The focus is therefore no longer:
“How should we punish this person?”
but rather:
“How can we help this person?”
Why Was the Change Necessary?
Supporters of the reform argued that:
•Criminalisation discouraged people from seeking help.
•It contributed to stigma surrounding mental health challenges.
•Persons in suicidal distress require care and intervention rather than prosecution.
•Effective suicide prevention is better achieved through support systems than criminal sanctions.
The amendment was therefore seen as a move towards a more humane, public health-centred approach to mental health.
What Do You Think?
Looking back at this landmark reform, do you believe Parliament made the right decision?
Has replacing criminal punishment with mental health intervention been a positive development for Ghana?
Or do you believe the previous law served an important purpose that should have been retained?
PUBLIC POLL
Prior to 2023, attempted suicide was a criminal offence in Ghana. Parliament has since decriminalised it and shifted the focus to mental health intervention and support.
Do you agree with this reform?
A. Yes, persons in crisis need treatment, not punishment.
B. No, some form of criminal sanction should have been retained.
C. Unsure – I would like to learn more.
Share your reasons in the comments.
