Criminal Prosecution of Suicide Attempt Survivors in Ghana

Abstract

Recently, there have been calls for the decriminalization (or depenalization) of nonfatal suicidal behavior (attempted suicide) in Ghana, India, Uganda, and other societies that currently criminalize nonfatal suicidal behavior. Despite this, there is a dearth of systematic studies that examine the extent, nature, and characteristics of attempted suicide prosecutions in countries that currently criminalize nonfatal suicidal behavior. The current study, therefore, explores the phenomenon of criminal prosecution and punishment for suicide attempters in Ghana, one among several countries where nonfatal suicidal behavior is a crime. Drawing from data extracted from local Ghanaian print and electronic news media articles, the study examines the sociodemographic characteristics of suicide attempt survivors, the patterns of nonfatal suicidal behavior, as well as the criminal justice outcomes of the criminal prosecutions. The findings indicate that the majority of defendants pled guilty to or were found guilty of the charge and sentenced to penalties ranging from monetary fines to incarceration. The results are discussed with regard to their implications for reducing nonfatal suicidal behavior in Ghana.

Police Views of Suicidal Persons and the Law Criminalizing Attempted Suicide in Ghana: A Qualitative Study With Policy Implications

“…So, it's all about information and knowledge that they [suicidal persons] don't have." This opinion underscored two facts: (a) as observed in previous studies (e.g., Adinkrah, 2012bAdinkrah, , 2016, most Ghanaians are not aware of the country's antisuicide law; and (b) although Ghana may be described as a religious country by behavior and practices (see Gilani, Shahid, & Zuettel, 2012), people who attempt or commit suicide do not seem to know that the act is a religious transgression. Perhaps she is asserting that awareness of these proscriptive imperatives would have deterred the suicidal person.…”

“…In Ghana, the burgeoning research efforts aimed at understanding the attitudes of people toward the act that criminalizes attempted suicide have thus far focused on the views and attitudes of various stakeholders (e.g., media, university students, nurses, psychologists, nongovernmental organizations, and researchers) (see Adinkrah, 2012;Adomakoh, 1975;Der, Dakwah, Derkyi-Kwarteng, & Badu, 2016;Hjelmeland, Osafo, Akotia, & Knizek, 2014;Kahn & Lester, 2013;Osafo, Knizek, Akotia, & Hjelmeland, 2012). Various arguments for and against the (potential merits and demerits of) decriminalization of attempted suicide in Ghana have been comprehensively discussed elsewhere (e.g., see Adinkrah, 2012bAdinkrah, , 2016Adomakoh, 1975;Doku, Wusu-Takyi, & Awakame, 2012;Hjelmeland et al, 2014;Kahn & Lester, 2013). This study is aimed at extending these studies to include the police in Ghana.…”

“…They are the first point of potential diversion of the mentally ill to relevant centers for attention and help. Therefore, in the bid to expand the burgeoning evidence (e.g., Adinkrah, 2012bAdinkrah, , 2016Hjelmeland et al, 2014;Kahn & Lester, 2013;Osafo, Akotia, Andoh-Arthur, Boakye, & Quarshie, 2017;Osafo, Akotia, & Boakye, 2016) and training programs (e.g., for media personnel, judges and lawyers, health professionals, police officers, etc.) to push for the decriminalization of attempted suicide in Ghana, the present study finds it imperative to explore the views of personnel of the Ghana Police Service on suicidal persons and the law criminalizing suicide attempts in the country.…”

Prevalence of suicidal behaviour among nursing and midwifery college students in Ghana

“…Attempted suicide is a crime in Ghana (Mishara & Weisstub, ); it is religiously sinful (Osafo et al, ), and morally, it is even tabooed to openly talk about suicide and suicidal behaviours (Sarpong, ). There is evidence to suggest that people found guilty of this code have been jailed or given hefty fines (Adinkrah, ). Knowledge of this law and social mores might have discouraged the participants from honestly reporting their histories of suicidal behaviours.…”

The experiences of attempt survivor families and how they cope after a suicide attempt in Ghana: a qualitative study

“…Reports of attempt survivors being either legally punished or socially ostracized have been reported in the country [12, 13]. Evidence continues to burgeon in support of decriminalizing or reforming the laws against attempted suicide in Ghana [14] and a call to empathize with attempt survivors and their families [15].…”