The Office of the President has firmly denied reports suggesting that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has granted a presidential pardon to certain individuals. A statement issued by the Director of Communications, Eugene Arhin, clarified that these claims are false and urged the public to rely solely on official communications from the presidency.

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Earlier media reports had alleged that President Akufo-Addo had pardoned several individuals, including Ato Essien, the former Chief Executive Officer of the defunct Capital Bank. These reports claimed the alleged pardon was part of a clemency initiative announced in a letter dated December 31, 2024.<img src="

alt="" class="wp-image-735642"/>Essien had been convicted of financial

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crimes following the collapse of Capital Bank during Ghana's financial sector reforms between 2017 and 2019. He was found guilty of embezzling GH¢620 million in liquidity support from the Bank of Ghana, a crime that significantly contributed to the financial instability in the sector. After failing to meet the terms of a GH¢90 million restitution agreement, Essien was sentenced to 15 years in prison in October 2023.

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Despite receiving multiple extensions, he only managed to repay a fraction of the amount owed. His health condition, marked by severe medical issues and multiple surgeries, had been cited in the context of the alleged pardon.The reports also mentioned Philip Assibit, who was serving a 12-year sentence for his involvement in a fraudulent $4 million transaction linked to the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Development Agency (GYEEDA).

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Assibit was convicted of causing financial loss to the state through falsified documents that led to the misappropriation of state funds.Despite these claims, the Office of the President has made it clear that no such pardons have been granted and advises the public to disregard any information to the contrary.

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