President Mahama petitioned to grant Amnesty to Ato Essien

Dr. John Apea, Head of Mission for the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council (CWEIC), has appealed to former President John Dramani Mahama to consider granting amnesty to William Ato Essien, citing the deteriorating health of the imprisoned founder of Capital Bank.

Speaking at a press briefing in Accra on Tuesday, Dr. Apea described Mr. Essien’s condition as critical, noting that he now relies on walking aids, including a wheelchair, for mobility. He urged the government to show compassion and give Mr. Essien a second chance at life.

According to him, Essien is a young man who was contributing his quota to national development, therefore, deserves compassion.

Dr. Apea emphasized that the liquidity support provided to Capital Bank was not a government bailout, but rather a commercial loan with a 28% annual interest rate.

He noted that at the time of the bank’s receivership, Capital Bank was servicing the loan without default—repaying GH¢14.4 million monthly—and had already repaid GH¢308 million of the GH¢620 million loan before its license was revoked.

While acknowledging that he does not have the legal mandate to assess the judicial process, Dr. Apea explained that his concerns are informed by documents and information shared with him in his capacity as a Commonwealth envoy, with responsibilities spanning business development and human rights advocacy.

“This is not about politics. This is about facts and fairness. The information I’ve reviewed suggests there was no theft,” he said.

However, he admitted he had not followed the court proceedings in detail and was speaking based solely on post-trial disclosures presented to him.

“I’m not commenting on the legal process itself but on what I have seen and been given. That’s the basis of my concern,” he added.

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