Prophet Oduro Faces Backlash Over Plea to President Mahama To Pardon Ato Essien: “He’s Too Smart”
- Prophet Kofi Oduro has made a passionate appeal to President John Dramani Mahama over the 15-year sentence of the founder of the defunct Capital Bank, Ato Essien
- He begged the President to consider an appeal which will soon be on his desk during his sermon on Sunday, July 6, 2025
- Netizens who saw the video of the renowned preacher were upset and criticised him in the comment section over the reason for his plea
Ghana’s top stories, now easier to find. Discover our new search feature!
Popular Ghanaian preacher, Kofi Oduro, has attracted heavy backlash after pleading with President John Dramani Mahama to pardon the embattled founder of the defunct Capital Bank, William Ato Essien.
Prophet Oduro, on Sunday, July 6, 2025, joined calls for Ato Essien, who is currently serving a 15-year prison sentence after being found guilty of stealing over GH¢90 million in liquidity support provided by the Bank of Ghana to his bank.
Source: Facebook
During a sermon, the preacher passionately pleaded with the President to consider Ato Essien in his list of persons who would be granted a presidential pardon this year.
He said in a video that the President would soon be petitioned over the matter, urging him to consider it on health grounds.
"Good morning Your Excellency, there is a petition coming to your table by the lawyers of that young man. Please that young man is too intelligent for prison and at the moment he has a health challenge on humanitarian grounds. Please, can he be added to the people who would be pardoned this year?" he said.
Watch the video of Prophet Kofi Oduro pleading with President Mahama to release Ato Essien below:
Prophet Oduro's plea follows Evangelist Patricia Asiedua's prison sentence. The popular televangelist, also Agradaa, was sentenced on July 3, 2025, to a 15-year jail term.
She was found guilty of fraud and engaging in charlatanic advertisements over a 2022 incident. Agradaa assembled church members, took their monies, promised to double it, but never did and dismissed the service. Following her incarceration, there have been calls for her release from custody.
Source: Facebook
Although he did not directly comment on Agradaa's case, Prophet Oduro contended that releasing Ato Essien would benefit the state better than freeing "dishonest persons."
"Ato Essien, that young man knows how to make money. He knows how to build a business, and even a nation. Let us release him to come and pay his debt. Rather leave him to rot in prison," he added.
Outrage over Prophet Oduro's plea to Mahama
Prophet Oduro's comment has attracted heavy backlash on social media. Many netizens were displeased with him calling for Ato Essien's release based on his intelligence.
@Nana Amoateng wrote:
"Is this man aware of the crimes of this Ato Essien? eiii" I have stopped going to church because of these men of God ohhh."
@Legal_Hustler_ wrote:
"He is too intelligent for prison, but who was born to go be jailed. Some of you pastors, if we don’t hold our heart, we will speak against the anointing 💔"
@Fame wrote:
"Woy3 kwasea paa .. What about those ordinary people? He's no better than anybody. Ghana belongs to all .. A lot of intelligent people are also rotting in jail."
Kofi Oduro's plea for Ato's release angers TikToker
In a related development, YEN.com.gh reported that Netherlands-based Ghanaian TikTok star Kofi Gabs criticised Prophet Kofi Oduro for urging President Mahama to release jailed Capital Bank CEO Ato Essien.
The former Bank official was jailed in October 2023 after he failed to pay back a GHC 90 million cedi debt to the government of Ghana.
During a July 6 sermon, Prophet Oduro argued that Essien’s brilliance is wasted in prison and appealed for a presidential pardon due to his deteriorating health.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
