The Court of Appeal has granted bail to William Ato Essien, former Managing Director and founder of the now-defunct Capital Bank, as he seeks to challenge his 15-year prison sentence for causing financial loss to the state.
The bail, set at GH₵10 million with two sureties, was granted after Essien applied for an appeal, following his conviction in October 2023. The court found him guilty after a restitution agreement—meant to refund GH¢90 million in misappropriated Bank of Ghana liquidity support—collapsed due to his failure to pay the agreed amount.
His imprisonment sparked public outcry, with some Ghanaians—including public figures—calling for presidential clemency on humanitarian grounds. An online petition circulated widely, urging intervention due to his deteriorating health condition.
On July 27, Dr. John Apea, Head of Missions at the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council and Board Member of the Commonwealth Human Rights Office for Africa, made a passionate appeal on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), citing Mr. Essien’s critical health condition as reason for compassion.
“Ato is now wheelchair-bound and suffering from a spinal injury sustained in custody. He is not receiving the medical care he urgently needs in prison,” Dr. Apea stated during a live X Spaces discussion.
Dr. Apea stressed the need to separate legal consequences from humanitarian considerations.
“This is no longer just about a court case or politics. This is about a man’s life. We must ask ourselves — is this justice or a silent execution? Ghana doesn’t have the death penalty for financial crimes, but are we imposing it silently through neglect?”
He also questioned the consistency of Ghana’s justice system, implying that some high-profile individuals have received more favorable treatment under similar circumstances.
Ato Essien’s bail comes as the legal process continues, but the spotlight now also shines on the broader issues of inmate welfare, access to healthcare in Ghana’s prisons, and the intersection of justice and mercy in high-profile financial crimes.
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