Akufo-Addo Dismisses Claims of Pardoning Ato Essien and Associates
President’s office reiterates that no pardons have been granted, urging the public to rely on official statements
- President Akufo-Addo's office denies reports of pardoning Ato Essien and others
- Reports suggesting pardons for convicted individuals, including Essien, are inaccurate
- Public advised to disregard rumors and rely on statements from the President's office
The Office of the President has vehemently denied circulating media reports claiming that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has granted a presidential pardon to 11 individuals, including high-profile figures such as William Ato Essien, convicted for his role in the collapse of Capital Bank.
In a statement issued on January 6, 2025, Eugene Arhin, the Director of Communications, clarified that these reports were completely false. The statement emphasized that President Akufo-Addo has not exercised his prerogative of mercy to pardon the individuals in question, refuting claims made by certain media outlets.
Among those reportedly pardoned were Essien, sentenced to 15 years in prison for financial crimes and suffering from serious health conditions, as well as Philip Akpeena Assibit, convicted in 2018 for causing financial loss to the state, and Akwasi Alhassan, a convicted murderer serving a life sentence.
The Office of the President reaffirmed that no such pardons have been granted and urged the public to disregard any inaccurate reports, stressing that official communications should be followed for accurate information.
