The Court of Appeal has granted bail of GH₵10 million with two sureties to William Ato Essien, the former Managing Director and founder of the defunct Capital Bank, as he pursues an appeal against his 15-year sentence for causing financial loss to the state.
Mr. Essien was convicted in October 2023 after defaulting on a restitution agreement involving the misappropriation of GH¢90 million in Bank of Ghana liquidity support. His failure to honour the repayment terms led to a custodial sentence.
The bail ruling follows a wave of public advocacy, including an online petition urging presidential clemency on health grounds. Notably, Dr. John Apea, Head of Missions at the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, has been vocal about Essien’s deteriorating condition.
In a recent X Spaces discussion, Dr. Apea revealed that Essien is wheelchair-bound, suffering from a spinal injury sustained while in custody. He raised concerns about the level of medical care available to him in prison, calling the situation a “silent execution.”
“We don’t have capital punishment for financial crimes in Ghana, but if a man’s health is collapsing behind bars, what message are we sending?” Dr. Apea questioned.
He emphasized that the focus should now shift from legal technicalities to humanitarian considerations, describing Essien as “a father, a brother, a son who can no longer care for himself in prison.”
The case continues to raise critical questions about Ghana’s approach to justice, rehabilitation, and the treatment of ailing inmates.
