Head of Mission for the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, Dr. John Apea, has opened up about a recent visit to jailed former Capital Bank founder, William Ato Essien, at the Nsawam Prison.
Speaking in an interview on Adom FM’s Dwaso Nsem morning show, Dr. Apea shared his emotional observations of Mr. Essien’s physical and emotional state.
“When I visited him, he was in a wheelchair. He looks like a broken man. There is a difference between physical illness and emotional torture. And if you see him, you’ll know he’s going through both,” Dr. Apea said.
He recounted his conversation with Mr. Essien during the visit, noting that despite his condition, the former banker remained spiritually grounded.
“He told me, ‘Every day is a blessing, not a pain,’ even though he is very sick and cannot walk,” Dr. Apea revealed.
He added that Mr. Essien’s health has deteriorated significantly and that he struggles physically, but has drawn closer to God in this period of hardship.
“His faith in God has deepened. He said no one can truly help you unless God steps in. He sees this moment as an opportunity to reconnect with his Maker,” he noted.
Dr. Apea stressed that his support for Ato Essien stems from a deep spiritual conviction.
“This is not by my might. It is God who is pushing me to help my brother because we are our brother’s keeper.”
He also cautioned against public judgment, saying, “Today it is Ato Essien. Tomorrow, it could be a journalist or a pastor who has been wrongly accused.”
Touching on the circumstances that landed Essien in jail, Dr. Apea insisted, “We must go back to the facts. Ato Essien did not steal any money.”
Mr. Essien was convicted in December 2022 for the theft of over GH₵90 million from the now-defunct Capital Bank. He initially avoided a custodial sentence after the court accepted a payment agreement he reached with the Attorney-General to refund the stolen funds.
However, he was later jailed after failing to comply with the payment terms, as ruled by Justice Eric Kyei Baffour.
Source: Dorcas Abedu-Kennedy
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