Andy Kankam, editor of the Informer newspaper, has condemned attempts to blackmail the president of Ghana to pardon Ato Essien of Capital Bank fame.
According to him, the former chief executive of the now collapsed bank should be made to serve his jail term after he failed to pay monies owed when he could not fulfil his plea for plea bargaining.
Andy Kankam believes that it is time Ghanaians stop meddling in such affairs because the monies that were lost, if retrieved, could be used to provide certain social amenities that are not available now.
“I’ve seen Pastors and others trying to blackmail the president to pardon Ato Essien. This is an individual who had his day in court. He was even granted a plea bargain, but could not meet his own promise of paying the money back. This must stop, he should be made to pay for going against the law,” it was said.
He continued, “If he has got the rest of the money to pay, he can come forward with that but until then, we should not countenance this at all. He has wronged and has to be made to pay for it”.
His calls come in the wake of calls on the president to pardon Ato Essien.
Reports on various media platforms are quoting KSM, Prophet Kofi Oduro, and others who have pleaded with the president to pardon Ato Essien.
KSM on his show said “Mr. President, I beg you. Please, this man in my view has been wronged. He is languishing in jail. If you should go and visit Ato Essien right now, the man is in a wheelchair”.
“He had an accident while in jail, and I think he sustained a very severe spinal injury. So right now, the man is in extremely bad shape. He is in a wheelchair because he has a spinal problem… so many things.”
“I am using this platform to appeal to His Excellency. Please, you have the power of clemency. I am begging the President. I can use this platform for all Ghanaians to add their voices and plead that Ato Essien does not belong there,” KSM stated.
