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President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has exercised his constitutional prerogative of mercy to pardon several convicts, including Ato Essien, the former Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Capital Bank. This act of clemency, announced in a letter dated December 31, 2024, forms part of a broader initiative to extend leniency and reconciliation at the close of the year.
Ato Essien’s pardon comes after his conviction for financial crimes related to the mismanagement of GH¢620 million in liquidity support provided by the Bank of Ghana to Capital Bank. These actions contributed to the collapse of the bank and widespread instability in Ghana’s financial sector.
Essien had been sentenced to 15 years in prison in October 2023 after failing to fulfill the terms of a restitution agreement with the state. The agreement required him to pay GH¢90 million to avoid incarceration, but despite several extensions, he only managed partial payment. Essien’s deteriorating health, including life-threatening medical conditions and multiple surgeries, reportedly influenced the clemency decision.
The President also granted clemency to Philip Assibit, convicted for financial crimes linked to a fraudulent transaction involving $4 million meant for the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA). Assibit had been serving a 12-year sentence for willfully causing financial loss to the state.
In addition to these high-profile cases, seven other convicts received presidential pardons based on unique circumstances:
1. Akwasi Alhassan – Convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1993, Alhassan has served 31 years. His sentence has been commuted to life imprisonment.
2. Beatrice Ofori – A 64-year-old woman convicted of human trafficking in 2023 and sentenced to eight years. Ofori suffers from severe hypertension and impaired mobility, spending most of her time in the prison infirmary.
3. Frank Obeng – Convicted of manslaughter and originally sentenced to 40 years, his sentence has been reduced to 12 years after serving part of his term in Nsawam Prison.
4. Stephen Nyarko – Serving a 30-year sentence for conspiracy to rob and robbery since 2010, Nyarko has served 22 years, including time spent in remand.
5. Osman Inusah – Convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery, though found not guilty of armed robbery. His pardon was influenced by mental health challenges that require treatment outside prison.
6. Joseph Nana Kwaku Boateng – Convicted of attempted export and possession of narcotic substances in 2019 and sentenced to 15 years. He has served eight years, including five in remand.
7. Emmanuel Adu Mensah – Serving a 15-year sentence for possession of narcotics since April 2024, Adu Mensah is currently incarcerated at Nsawam Prison.
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