This recent photo shows William Ato Essien frail and in a hospital
The Head of Missions at the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council and Board Member of the Commonwealth Human Rights Office for Africa, Dr John Apea, has renewed calls for presidential clemency for William Ato Essien.
Dr John Apea cited the founder of the defunct Capital Bank’s severely deteriorated health as a compelling reason.
In a discussion on X Spaces on Sunday, Dr Apea revealed that Essien is now wheelchair-bound, suffering from a spinal injury sustained while in custody.
Highlighting the emotional and physical toll of Essien’s condition, Dr Apea stated that; “As it stands now, Ato is not receiving the necessary medical care that a prison facility or within the prison walls that he needs, you know?
“So, that’s why, for me, the clemency is the biggest thing I’m most interested in now, court, case, capital, bank, all that stuff. I don’t want to meddle in politics either. Let the lawyer deal with that one step at a time. But for now, we have to look at what the real issue is. The real issue is that here’s our father, here’s our brother, here’s our son who can’t take care of himself in prison because he’s in ill health. Do we leave him there? Is that rehabilitation, or is that a death penalty? We don’t have capital punishment for financial crimes in Ghana, but is this a silent execution that we are putting people who are ill through? I don’t think that should be the case.”
Dr Apea questioned the integrity of Ghana’s justice system in this context, drawing attention to the contrast in treatment between Essien and other high-profile figures convicted of financial crimes.
He pointed out that Dr Kwabena Duffuor, formerly of uniBank, had been released under similar circumstances, yet Ato Essien remains incarcerated, despite his medical hardship.
Dr Apea explained that the petition is not about Mr Essien’s wealth or business standing, but rather about fairness and mercy.
William Ato Essien was convicted in December 2022 for allegedly embezzling over GH¢90 million from Capital Bank, funds acquired through Bank of Ghana liquidity support.
Although initially spared a custodial sentence via a restitution agreement, he was later jailed in late 2023 after failing to fulfill the payment terms.
The clemency campaign asserts William Ato Essien paid substantial sums toward restitution and challenges the legality of his conviction, citing concerns that he lacked the financial means for elite legal defense and may have been treated unfairly.
Dr Apea has announced a formal petition to change.org, calling for clemency on humanitarian and justice grounds.
