Mahama Petitioned To Offer William Ato Essien Presidential Pardon After 15-Year Jail Term
- President John Mahama has been petitioned to grant a presidential pardon to William Ato Essien
- The petitioner said they had concerns about the fairness and integrity of Essien’s conviction
- He was convicted of stealing GH¢90 million of Bank of Ghana monetary support for his bank
President John Mahama has been petitioned by a lawyer to grant a presidential pardon to William Ato Essien, founder of Capital Bank who is currently sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The petition submitted by Andrew Appiah-Danquah described the sentence for stealing over GH¢90 million of liquidity support provided by the Bank of Ghana to Capital Bank as a great injustice.
Source: Facebook
Citi News reported that Appiah-Danquah has serious concerns about the fairness and integrity of Essien’s conviction.
He also argued that the former banking head had made significant contributions to Ghana’s financial sector.
Appiah-Danquah also insisted in the petition that Capital Bank’s collapse in 2017 was politically orchestrated.
"Mr Essien refused to bow to political pressure to cede control of his bank to powerful interests, which ultimately led to its targeted demise. The GH¢620 Million Liquidity Support Was a Commercial Loan, Not a Fraud…Capital Bank was repaying this loan and had already paid GH¢336 million in interest over two years—clear evidence that it was a legitimate banking transaction."
“Granting a Presidential Pardon to Ato Essien will not only restore justice but will also affirm your commitment to a truly new Ghana—one where freedom and justice are not just words, but lived realities."
What was Ato Essien found guilty of?
Essien pleaded guilty to misappropriating funds deposited at the bank by thousands of clients and to stealing, abetment to theft, conspiracy to steal, and money laundering, among other charges.
He was also found guilty of financial crimes relating to the mismanagement of funds, including the embezzlement of GH¢620 million.
During the case, Ato Essien had tried to challenge the revocation of Capital Bank's operating licence by the Bank of Ghana.
He was initially told he would have been able to walk free if he could settle his debt of GH¢53 million to the state.
Initial proposal to pardon Ato Essien
There were suggestions that President Nana Akufo-Addo would pardon Essien before leaving office. However, the office later refuted reports of a presidential pardon being granted to 11 individuals, including the bank founder.
It was also reported by Graphic Online in social media post that among those allegedly pardoned by the former Ghanaian leader were three men who were convicted for the export and possession of narcotics.
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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 similar 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 by the former Ghanaian leader.
Abuga Pele among alleged presidential pardons
YEN.com.gh reported that Akufo-Addo 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 from Pele's home constituency. The former agency head's health was said to have been failing at that time.
Proofread by Bruce Douglas, senior copy editor at YEN.com.gh
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Source: YEN.com.gh
