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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has exercised his constitutional prerogative of mercy to grant pardons to several convicts, including Ato Essien, the former Chief Executive Officer of the now-defunct Capital Bank.
This pardon, which comes as part of a broader clemency initiative, was communicated in a letter dated December 31, 2024, marking the end of the year with a gesture of leniency and reconciliation.
Ato Essien’s legal challenges began following the collapse of Capital Bank, which was one of the banks implicated in Ghana’s financial sector cleanup between 2017 and 2019.
He was found guilty of financial crimes relating to the mismanagement of funds, including the embezzlement of GH¢620 million in liquidity support provided by the Bank of Ghana to Capital Bank. This led to widespread financial instability and contributed to the loss of trust in the banking sector.
Ato Essien was sentenced in October 2023 to 15 years imprisonment after failing to fully comply with the terms of an agreement he reached with the state.
The agreement required him to repay GH¢90 million as part of a restitution deal to avoid incarceration. Despite several extensions and lifelines granted to him since December 2022, Essien managed to pay only a portion of the amount, leaving the state with no choice but to enforce the court’s ruling.
He is said to be suffering from severe life-threatening medical conditions and has undergone multiple surgeries as a result.
In addition to Ato Essien, the President extended clemency to Philip Assibit, another individual convicted for financial crimes. Assibit had been serving a 12-year sentence for willfully causing financial loss to the state.
His case stemmed from a fraudulent transaction involving a loan of $4 million meant for the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA).
He was found guilty of fabricating documents to justify the payment, resulting in significant financial loss to the state.
The list of the other nine pardoned convicts and their corresponding crimes include the following:
1. Akwasi Alhassan – He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death on 19th March 1993. He has been in prison since then (31 years). He is now serving life imprisonment per presidential order.
2. Beatrice Ofori – She was convicted of human trafficking on 6th June 2023 for 8 years with hard labour. She is currently 64 years old and is seriously hypertensive. This has affected both legs, leading to her inability to move freely. She spends most of her time in the prison infirmary.
3. Frank Obeng – He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 40 years in prison. He is currently serving his sentence in Nsawam Prison. His sentence is proposed to be reduced from 40 to 12 years.
4. Stephen Nyarko – He was convicted of conspiracy to rob and robbery in December 2010 and sentenced to 30 years. He has served 22 years in total, including time spent in remand.
5. Osman Inusah – He was convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery even though he was found not guilty of armed robbery. A petition submitted on his behalf states that he has mental health challenges, which need to be treated and managed at home.
6. Joseph Nana Kwaku Boateng – He was convicted for attempted export and possession of narcotic substances on 28th May 2019 and sentenced to 15 years. He has served 8 years in total including five spent in remand.
7. Emmanuel Adu Mensah – He was convicted of possession of narcotics and sentenced to a prison term of 15 years in April 2024. He is currently serving his prison term in Nsawam Prison.
8. Kwame Twum Ampofo – He was convicted of possession of narcotics and sentenced to a prison term of 10 years in April 2024. He is currently serving his prison term in Nsawam Prison.
9. Alexander Andrew Nii Lante Lawson – He was convicted of stealing and sentenced to a prison term of 5 years with hard labour and ordered to refund an amount of GH¢532,193.26 on 5th November, 2021. He has served 3 years in prison. His health has deteriorated significantly while he has been in prison, and he is dependent on medication.
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