Akufo-Addo Denies Pardoning Ato Essien, 10 Other Convicts

• The presidency has denied pardoning 11 individuals, including former Capital Bank CEO William Ato Essien
• In a statement this week, the Office of the President stated that the reports about the pardon were inaccurate
• Three men who were convicted for the export and possession of narcotics were said to have been pardoned

The Office of the President has refuted reports circulating that President Nana Akufo-Addo has granted a presidential pardon to 11 individuals, including William Ato Essien, the former Chief Executive Officer of the now-defunct Capital Bank.

The presidency claims the reports, backed by documentation featuring the president's secretary, Kow Essuman, were inaccurate.

In a statement, the presidency also urged Ghanaians to rely on official communication from the presidency and not hearsay.

Essien, who was sentenced to 15 years in prison by an Accra High Court in October 2023, is the most high-profile name on the list of purported pardons.

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He was found guilty of financial crimes relating to the mismanagement of funds, including the embezzlement of GH¢620 million.

Also reported to have been pardoned were three men who were convicted for the export and possession of narcotics, according to Graphic Online.

One of them, Emmanuel Adu Mensah, was convicted of possession of narcotics and sentenced to a prison term of 15 years in April 2024.

Kwame Twum Ampofo was also sentenced to a prison term of 10 years in April 2024 for similer offences and has served a few months at Nsawam.

Joseph Nana Kwaku Boateng is another person related to narcotics who has allegedly been granted a pardon.

He was convicted for attempted export and possession of a narcotic substance on May 28, 2019, and sentenced to 15 years.

Akufo-Addo's last pardon

In most recent acts of clemency, Akufo-Addo pardoned an appointee under the Mahama administration who was jailed for causing financial loss to the state.

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The appointee pardoned was a Deputy National Security Coordinator, Alhaji Salifu Mimina Osman, who was jailed for his role in the purchase of cybersecurity equipment worth over $4 million.

According to a letter from the Office of the President to the interior ministry, the pardon was granted following consultation with the Council of State.

A petition from the Paramount Chief of Kpembi Traditional Area, Kpembewura Haruna Dari Bismark Banbange Ndefoso I prompted it.

The petition called for the pardon on grounds of ill health and good behaviour.

Osman was serving a five-year jail term in 2020 for wilfully causing financial loss to the state as part of the scandal at the National Communications Authority (NCA).

Abuga Pele among presidential pardons

YEN.com.gh reported that the president previously pardoned Abuga Pele, the former National Coordinator of the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency in 2022.

This pardon from the country's top office reportedly came after pleas made to the President from Pele's home constituency. The former agency head's health was said to have been failing then.

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Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh

Source: YEN.com.gh