President Kufuor is known as the "Gentle Giant"

GHANA FREES OR COMMUTES SENTENCES OF 1,206 PRISONERS

March 6, 2007: Ghana’s President, John Kufuor, freed or commuted the sentences of 1,206 prisoners to mark the 50th anniversary of independence, according to an Interior Ministry statement. Thirty-six prisoners who were on death row have had their sentences commuted to life in prison.
Three prisoners who were serving life sentences had their jail terms reduced to 20 years. And 1,167 detainees serving lesser sentences have been freed, said the statement.
The statement did not say exactly when the changes would take effect.
Ghana's prison population stands at just under 12,000. (Sources: AFP, SA, 06/03/2007)