Ato Essien’s Plea Bargain Fueled by Fear – KSM
Renowned Ghanaian satirist and media personality, Kweku Sintim-Misa, popularly known as KSM, has shared a poignant perspective on the incarceration of former Capital Bank CEO, Ato Essien, suggesting that fear, rather than guilt, led to his plea bargain. During a virtual discussion on “Are Ghanaian Prisons Becoming a Place of Silent Execution?” held on Sunday, KSM cautioned young people against allowing fear to dictate their decisions, citing Essien’s case as an example.
KSM recounted the sequence of events leading to Ato Essien’s imprisonment, emphasizing Essien’s belief in his innocence regarding the accusations that arose during the banking sector clean-up. “He actually knew that he was innocent of all the accusations. He knew that. But the fear of going to jail was so much upon him that when the prosecutors asked him to plea bargain, he was so afraid of going to jail that he thought that maybe if he does a plea bargain and accept his guilt, which he wasn’t really, that would prevent him from being thrown into jail,” KSM said.
He further revealed that Essien’s lawyers vehemently advised against the plea bargain, asserting his innocence. However, driven by the intense dread of incarceration, Essien proceeded with the plea bargain, a decision KSM asserts is the very reason he is currently in prison.
“Sadly, the plea bargain is the reason he’s in jail now,” KSM said, highlighting the irony and tragedy of the situation. He used the opportunity to advise his younger audience: “Don’t let fear lead you into any kind of mistake like that.”
Dr. John Apea, Head of Missions for the Commonwealth Enterprise and Investment Council and a Board Member of the Commonwealth Human Rights Office in Africa, corroborated KSM’s sentiments, particularly regarding the detrimental impact of fear. Dr. Apea, who recently visited Ato Essien in prison, stressed the importance of resisting external pressure, especially for young people.
“Fear is something that saddens me a lot, you know, because a lot of the time we can be pressurized into doing things that we don’t want to do, especially the youth,” Apea said. He also underscored the principle that no one, regardless of age or background, should be compelled to act against their will.
The discussion also delved into the broader state of Ghana’s prison services. KSM, with some experience of visiting inmates at Nsawam Medium Security Prison, acknowledged the presence of recreational facilities, such as football pitches and even a small hospital; however, he noted that the severe overcrowding, where inmates often take turns sleeping, and the lack of effective rehabilitation programs. “The rehabilitative aspect of the whole prison system is very lacking,” he said, advocating for opportunities that expose inmates to skills and trades that can transform them into useful members of society upon release, rather than hardening them further.
Dr. Apea, while acknowledging KSM’s deeper familiarity with the prisons, reiterated his stance that a prison, while not a five-star institution, should not be a death sentence. He stressed that prisons should serve as places of correction and accountability, aligning with the United Nations Mandela rules, which advocate for similar standards of healthcare and facilities inside prisons as outside, drawing attention to the importance of dignity for inmates.
