Politricks at its best – Ghana’s President, John Dramani Mahama, has exercised his presidential prerogative for mercy and authorised the pardon of the so-called ‘Montie 3’.
The news was announced in a statement released Monday by the Presidency and signed by the Minister for Communications, Dr Edward Omane Boamah.
The three – Godwin Ako Gunn, Alistair Nelson and Salifu ‘Mugabe’ Maase – were jailed for four months after making threats against Supreme Court Justices on a program hosted by Maase on Montie Fm.
A petition was started by the NDC, signed by several prominent members including Ministers, and handed over to the Presidency. The petition was forwarded to the Council of State, who reportedly recommended a pardon.
The three are being released on ‘compassionate grounds’ – with the pardon set to take effect Friday.
Read the full statement announcing their pardon below…
The President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama has, in consultation with the Council of State and in exercise of his constitutional powers under Article 72 of the Constitution, remitted the remaining prison sentence imposed on three persons: Salifu Maase (alias Mugabe), Alistair Nelson and Ako Gunn who were sentenced to 4 months imprisonment and a fine of GHȻ10,000.00 each for contempt of court. The remission is effective 26th August 2016.
The three were sentenced on 27th July 2016 and have served part of the prison sentences imposed on them. They have also paid the GHȻ10,000.00 (ten thousand Cedis) fines.
The decision of His Excellency the President to remit their sentences on compassionate grounds follows a petition submitted to him by the contemnors appealing to the President to exercise his prerogative of mercy even as they continue to express deep remorse and regret for the unacceptable statements they made against the Judiciary.
His Excellency, President Mahama takes this opportunity to remind all Ghanaians of the need to respect the institutions of State and exercise freedom of speech responsibly mindful of the need to preserve peace and national unity.
The President reminds all concerned especially persons working in the media or appearing on its platforms to be circumspect and guard against the use of intemperate language which has the potential of causing unnecessary tension especially in this election year.
The President is hopeful that all will draw lessons from the events leading to the conviction of the three persons and bear in mind the consequences of injudicious utterances.
Signed: EDWARD K. OMANE BOAMAH (DR.) (Minister)
If you have been imprisoned and part of your sentence is remitted, this means that you do not have to remain in prison for the full period of your sentence. For example, if you have been sentenced to 8 years’ imprisonment, you may be released after 6 years. In other words, the remaining 2 years of your sentence are remitted.
In my humble view, this presidential pardon or remittance of the disproportionate sentences handed to the Montie trio, was long overdue!
Irrespective of the manner in which freedom of speech is abused, a culture of silence is never a plausible alternative under a democratic dispensation!