The Court of Appeal has granted a GH₵10 million bail with two sureties to William Ato Essien, the former CEO and founder of the defunct Capital Bank, as he seeks to overturn his 15-year prison sentence for causing financial loss to the state.
Essien was convicted in October 2023 after failing to honor a restitution agreement involving the misappropriation of GH₵90 million in Bank of Ghana liquidity support. His default led to the collapse of the deal and a subsequent custodial sentence.
The bail decision comes amid growing public appeals for clemency, with supporters citing Essien’s deteriorating health. An online petition, along with advocacy from public figures, has intensified calls for his release on humanitarian grounds.
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, highlighted Essien’s condition during a discussion on X Spaces. Dr. Apea revealed that Essien is now wheelchair-bound due to a spinal injury sustained in custody and is not receiving adequate medical attention.
“As it stands now, Ato is not getting the necessary medical care within the prison system,” Dr. Apea stressed. “This isn’t about politics or the court process anymore. The man is in poor health—this could be a silent death sentence.”
He questioned whether keeping a gravely ill man in prison serves any purpose, warning that it could amount to inhumane treatment. “We don’t have capital punishment for financial crimes in Ghana, so why let illness turn into a death sentence?”
Dr. Apea also raised concerns about inconsistency in the application of justice in Ghana, suggesting unequal treatment of high-profile individuals convicted of similar offenses.
Essien’s bail now allows him temporary freedom as his legal team prepares to challenge the prison sentence at the appellate level.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem