The Head of Mission for the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, Dr. John Apea, has explained why he is petitioning for clemency on behalf of William Ato Essien, the jailed founder of the defunct Capital Bank.
According to Dr. Apea, the petition is not based on Mr. Essien’s wealth or business success, but rather on humanitarian grounds and concerns about justice.
“This is not about money. Ato Essien is not sitting on huge wealth, as many people assume. He’s like any other prisoner who has been convicted and is now battling for his life,” Dr. Apea said.
He revealed in an interview on Adom FM’s morning show Dwaso Nsem, that Mr. Essien is currently in a wheelchair and facing serious health issues.
“We are not just asking for justice; we are asking for sympathy from President Mahama because Ato Essien is in a very bad state of health,” he stressed.
Dr. Apea also pointed out that Mr. Essien lacked the financial capacity to hire top legal representation.
“It’s not like he had the best legal team money can buy. We are fighting not just for him, but for every prisoner who may have been wronged,” he added.
He urged Ghanaians to look beyond the surface and reconsider what really happened.
“At first, I thought he had stolen the money, like many people believe. But after reviewing the evidence and speaking to him, I now see things differently. There was no theft as widely assumed.”
Dr. Apea clarified that he had no personal or professional relationship with Mr. Essien until recently.
“Back when all this happened, I was in the UK and only heard of him through the media. I didn’t know him personally.”
Mr. Essien was convicted in December 2022 for stealing over GH₵90 million from Capital Bank. He initially avoided a custodial sentence after the court approved a deal between him and the Attorney-General, in which he agreed to pay the amount in restitution.
However, in 2023, he was jailed for failing to honour the terms of the agreement.
Dr. Apea said the clemency petition is a plea for both justice and mercy, grounded in compassion and a belief in rehabilitation.
“This is not just about one man. It’s about creating a justice system that is fair and humane,” he said.
Source: Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy
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