UPDATED: Ato Essien, Philip Assibit not granted presidential pardon
The Office of the President has dismissed claims that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has granted presidential pardons to certain individuals.
In a statement released on Monday evening (January 6, 2025) by the Jubilee House Communications Directorate, the Director of Communications, Eugene Arhin categorically refuted the reports.
"We wish to categorically state that these assertions are inaccurate, and no pardon has been granted by President Akufo-Addo," the statement read.
The statement further urged the public to disregard the claims, stressing: "The public is kindly urged to disregard any contrary information and rely on official communications from the Office of the President."
Background
Letter addressed to Council of State Chairman
A photocopy of a letter dated December 31, 2024, signed by Kow Abaka Essuman, the acting Secretary to the President and Legal Counsel to the President, which had been addressed to the Chairman of the Council of State, seeking advice in line with the president’s wish to exercise his prerogative of mercy in line with Article 72(1) of the Constitution to pardon certain convicted persons was circulated on social media on Monday morning [Jan 6, 2025]. (Photocopy of letter attached below)
In the letter, the President had proposed and asked for advice from the Council on William Ato Essien, the founder of the defunct Capital Bank, who was convicted for his role in the collapse of the bank and jailed.
It indicated President Akufo-Addo wanted to grant him a presidential pardon together with some other individuals.
Also mentioned in the presidential pardon issue were three men who were convicted for the export and possession of narcotics.
One of them, Emmanuel Adu Mensah was convicted of possession of narcotics and sentenced to a prison term of 15 years in April 2024.
He has just served a few months of the prison term at the Nsawam Prison.
Kwame Twum Ampofo also convicted of possession of narcotics and sentenced to a prison term of 10 years in April 2024 and has served a few months at Nsawam was also mentioned in the letter to be considered and granted a pardon.
The other person in relation to narcotics, and who was also mentioned to be granted a pardon is Joseph Nana Kwaku Boateng.
He was convicted for attempted export and possession of a narcotic substance on May 28, 2019, and sentenced to 15 years.
He has served eight years in total including five spent in remand.
For Ato Essien, he was sentenced to pay GH¢90 million. He defaulted after paying part of the money and was therefore sentenced to 15 years in prison in December 2023.
He is said to be suffering from severe life-threatening medical conditions and has undergone multiple surgeries as a result.
It is following this that President Akufo-Addo was proposing to the Council of State for advice on granting him a pardon.
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For Philip Akpeena Assibit, he was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2018 for willfully causing financial loss to the State in relation to his role at the National Youth Employment Programme (NYEP).
He has served six years in prison and has pleaded to be released on the grounds of ill health.
Attached below is an excerpt from the photocopy of the letter the President sent to the Council of State for advice in accordance with Article 72(1) to pardon certain convicted persons and the statement also from the presidency denying the granting of the pardons.
The President of the Republic wishes to exercise his prerogative of mercy, in accordance with Article 72 (1) of the Constitution, to pardon certain convicted persons. The persons in respect of whom the President wishes to exercise this discretion are as follows:
Akwasi Alhassan - He was convicted of murder and sentenced to death on 19th March, 1993. He has been in prison since then (31 years). He is now serving life imprisonment per presidential order.
Beatrice Ofori - She was convicted of human trafficking on 6 June, 2023 for 8 years with hard labour. She is currently 64 years old and is seriously hypertensive. This has affected both legs, leading to her inability to move freely. She spends most of her time in the prison infirmary.
William Ato Essien - He was convicted for his role in the collapse of Capital Bank and sentenced to pay GH¢90 million. He defaulted after paying part of the money. He was sentenced to 15 years in prison in December 2023. He is suffering from severe life-threatening medical conditions and has undergone multiple surgeries as a result.
Frank Obeng - He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to 40 years in prison. He is currently serving his sentence in Nsawam Prison. His sentence is proposed to be reduced from 40 to 12 years.
Stephen Nyarko - He was convicted of conspiracy to rob and robbery in December 2010 and sentenced to 30 years. He has served 22 years in total, including time spent in remand.
Philip Akpeena Assibit - He was sentenced to 12 years in prison in 2018 for willfully causing financial loss to the State related to his role at the National Youth Employment Programme. He has served 6 years in prison, He has pleaded to be released on the grounds of ill health.
Osman Inusah - He was convicted of conspiracy to commit robbery even though he was found not guilty of armed robbery. A petition submitted on his behalf states that he has mental health challenges, which need to be treated and managed at home.
Joseph Nana Kwaku Boateng - He was convicted for attempted export and possession of narcotic substance on 28 th May, 2019 and sentenced to 15 years. He has served 8 years in total including five spent in remand.
Emmanuel Adu Mensah - He was convicted of possession of narcotics and sentenced to a prison term of 15 years in April 2024. He is currently serving his prison term in Nsawam Prison.
Kwame Twum Ampofo - He was convicted of possession of narcotics and sentenced to a prison term of 10 years in April 2024. He is currently serving his prison term in Nsawam
Alexander Andrew NIl Lante Lawson - He was convicted of stealing and sentenced to a prison term of 5 years with hard labour and ordered to refund an amount of GH¢532,193.26 on 5th November, 2021. He has served 3 years in prison. His health has deteriorated significantly while he has been in prison, and he is dependent on medication.
Pursuant to Article 72 of the Constitution, the President is hereby consulting the Council on the exercise of his prerogative of mercy in this matter and would be grateful for the Council's expeditious consideration to enable him act accordingly.
Please accept, Nana Chairman the President's best wishes.
Yours sincerely
Kow Abaka Essuman, Esq
Ag. Secretary to the President and Legal Counsel to the President
EDITOR’S NOTE
This article has been updated to reflect the denial of granting pardon to the mentioned individuals as earlier erroneously reported. The letter from the presidency to the Council of State was part of the consultation process in line with Article 72(1) of the constitution to enable him act accordingly in the exercise of his prerogative of mercy. The error is deeply regretted.
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