The Head of Mission for the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, Dr John Apea, has announced that he and other advocates will launch an initiative aimed at supporting individuals who have been unjustly sentenced to imprisonment for offences of which they had no knowledge.
He explained that this initiative will receive appeals from individuals who lack the means to navigate the processes involved in defending themselves against any legal action that has unfairly led to their incarceration.
Dr Apea announced that his team will open a portal in September for people to submit cases for review by pro bono lawyers, as they are doing for William Ato Essien.
He was responding to concerns raised by critics who have faulted his appeal for clemency for the incarcerated AtonEsaien, who is currently serving a 15-year jail term on 16 charges, including theft, money laundering, and conspiracy to steal, all related to the bank’s collapse.
Dr Apea indicated that aside from William Ato Essien, there are several other individuals who are in jail for offences they knew nothing about.
“I am happy to say that by September we are opening up a portal which will be Commonwealth-wide, starting with Ghana, where anyone who feels they’ve been wronged can actually present their case to us, and we have pro bono lawyers who are going to work to exonerate them and fight for them the same way we are fighting for Ato Essien.”
Dr John Apea, Head of Mission for the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council, believes William Ato Essien, former CEO of the defunct Capital Bank, was wrongly convicted.
Essien is currently serving a 15-year sentence after pleading guilty to charges including theft and money laundering related to the bank’s collapse, having failed to repay an agreed GH¢90 million to the state.
However, Dr Apea asserts he has reviewed new evidence indicating Essien committed no theft.
He argues the GH¢90 million was a contentious figure, explaining that the bank was regularly repaying a commercial liquidity support loan (GH¢308 million repaid before closure).
Dr Apea also clarifies that a GH¢27.5 million payment to Essien was a legitimate “finder’s fee” for negotiating the loan, not stolen funds.
He further highlights the inconsistency of Essien’s conviction when others jointly charged, including the person who paid the GH¢27.5 million, were acquitted.
Dr Apea plans to seek a presidential pardon for Essien, citing human rights and new evidence.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana