000{s arbitrarily deprived of life and the right to a fair trial, all of which are protected by Ghana's Constitution. 5 On 16 July 2009, the Court of Appealdismissed the appealboth on the conviction and sentence. 6 The Applicant further pursued his appeal against both the conviction and sentence before the Supreme Court and on 16 March 201 t his appeal was, again, dismissed. 7 Subsequently, in December 2011 and April 2012, respectively, the Applicant made two clemency petitions to the President of Ghana. 8 ln July 2012, lhe Applicant filed a communication to the United Nations Human Rights Committee (hereinafter referred to as "the HRC") under the First Optional Protocol to the lnternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. I On 27 March 2014, the HRC found, in its Views, that since the only punishment for murder under Ghanaian law was the death penalty, courts had no discretion but to impose the only sentence permitted by law. The HRC held that the automatic and mandatory imposition of the death penalty constitutes an arbitrary deprivation of life contrary to Article 6(1) of the lnternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (hereinafter referred to as 'the ICCPR'). 1 lt thus ordered the Respondent State to provide the Applicant with an effective remedy including the commutation of his sentence. The HRC also reminded the Respondent State that it was under a duty to avoid similar violations in future including by adjusting its legislation in line with the provisions of the ICCPR. 10. The HRC requested the Respondent State to file, within one hundred and eighty (180) days, information about the measures taken to give effect to its Views and also requested the Respondent State to publish the HRC's Views and have them widely disseminated in the Respondent State. The HRC also reminded the Respondent 1 Article 6(1) provides as follows: "Every human being has the inherent right to life. This right shall be protected by law. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.' 3 Q ..')- l