President John Dramani Mahama extended amnesty to 998 inmates in Ghana’s prison system, the government announced Monday night.
According to the announcement made on Monday, August 18, 2025, two prisoners who had expressly petitioned the president for amnesty and begged for attention are listed among those who were granted protection.
The news release did not name them.
The list also includes two nursing mothers, 87 death row inmates, 36 inmates over 70, and 33 very ill offenders—all of whom were among the 998 individuals given presidential amnesty.
No recipients were named in the presidential statement signed and released by Felix Kwakye Ofosu, the presidential spokesperson.
However, William Ato Essien, the former CEO of the now-defunct Capital Bank, who was found guilty in April 2023 of misusing Bank of Ghana liquidity support and sentenced to 15 years in prison on October 12, 2023, is one individual who recently petitioned the president for amnesty.
But because of an appeal he filed, he is currently free on medical bail.
Following rumors that Ato Essien was ill and had recently been admitted to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra for treatment, many people urged President Mahama to grant his request for a pardon, which gained momentum.
Those who backed the appeal for the president to pardon Ato Essien contended that the current government had dropped the charges against all the other individuals who were implicated in the failure of other institutions.
Therefore, those who argued in favor of Ato Essien’s pardon said that it was unjust for him to be the only one still behind bars.
They contended that Ato Essien was in prison in a wheelchair and was ill.
A reliable source told Graphic Online that Patricia Asiedu Asiamah, also known as Nana Agradaa; William Ato Essien, the former CEO of the Capital Bank; and other well-known incarcerated individuals are not on the list of beneficiaries.
Agradaa has not yet served even six months of her 15-year jail sentence; thus, she is not eligible, whereas Essien is already on medical bail while his appeal against his detention is being decided.
According to the presidential declaration, the amnesty extended to 36 prisoners who were seventy years of age or older and 33 prisoners who were gravely ill, regardless of their offense.
787 first-time offenders in all are included and will be freed.
Additionally, 51 detainees serving life sentences will have their periods reduced to a fixed 20-year sentence, and 87 prisoners currently serving death sentences will have their sentences commuted to life in prison.
The statement claims that the decision was heavily influenced by humanitarian concerns.
Of the 1,014 prisoners the Prisons Service Council recommended for amnesty, 998 were granted by the President.
The action emphasizes the use of the mercy clauses in the constitution to deal with jail overcrowding and particular humanitarian situations.
Source: newsthemegh.com