Ghana’s Council of State, after studying the petition presented to them by the President for advise, have decided to come down on the side of a pardon.
Local newspaper the Daily Post reports that after deliberating on the issue, the Council have decided that the President should show mercy and commute the sentences of the jailed Montie 3.
The MP for Akwatia and Deputy Minister for Employment, Baba Jamal, says the President should not pardon the Montie 3 under any circumstances.
Baba Jamal, though, is not taking any principled stance against the President potentially undermining of the judiciary – he is just concerned with what looks good politically for the President.
Former Attorney General and Minister of Justice Martin Amidu, who became graced with the title ‘citizen vigilante’ for his willingness to take on those in power, has described the jailing of the so-called Montie 3 as unconstitutional.
According to the seasoned lawyer, the process used by the Supreme Court to hand down a sentence of contempt contravened established and laid down procedures and thus flouted the constitution of the republic.
A lawyer, Elikplim L. Agbemava, has sued the President, John Dramani Mahama, to prevent him from exercising his powers in favour of freeing the jailed Montie 3.
In a suit filed at the High Court Monday, Mr Agbemava said that the power granted to the President by the constitution ought to be exercised in a manner that indicates “certainty, consistency, and fairness” – qualities the plaintiff believes this current case sorely lacks.
Days go by and the Montie 3 saga continues, unabated.
The President was recently presented with the signed petition calling for the release of the jailed three, and in keeping with his constitutional mandate, the President is seeking the advice of the council of state.
The Montie 3 presented their petition to the President of the land Tuesday morning, calling on him to exercise his constitutional prerogative to grant pardons in their case.
The three – Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu ‘Mugabe’ Maase – were handed four month jail sentences after being found guilty of contempt, for threatening the lives of Supreme Court justices during an appearance on Maase’s show on Montie Fm.
The petition calling for the release of the jailed Montie 3 has been presented to the Presidency by the petitioners, for the Commander-in-Chief to make his decision on whether to pardon the convicts.
The Montie 3 consists of Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu ‘Mugabe’ Maase – the show host and two panellists who made threats against Supreme Court justices during a program on the station – and were handed four month jail sentences for their troubles.
The jailed ‘Montie 3’ who are serving four month sentences each for contempt, have signed the petition calling on the President of the Republic to exercise his constitutional prerogative and grant them pardons.
George Loh, one of the lawyers for the convicts who have been christened ‘Montie 3’- Salifu ‘Mugabe’ Maase, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gun – confirmed on Joy News that the three have affixed their signatures to the petition from their jails in Nsawam.
Actress Lydia Forson has commented on the hot issue of the moment, the jail sentences of the so-called ‘Montie 3’ and the movement to get the President to pardon them.
According to the opinionated actress, getting the President to unilaterally overturn the verdict of the judiciary would undermine the courts massively due to the political nature of the decision, and surely serve as a recipe for disaster.
Madam Akua Donkor has joined the ranks of NDC stalwarts calling for the release of the jailed ‘Montie 3’, signing a petition at the station to that effect.
Akua Donkor, founder of the Ghana Freedom Party (GFP), has proven herself a staunch ally of the party.
The ruling National Democratic Congress have reportedly paid the Ghc 10,000 fines imposed on the jailed ‘Montie 3’.
Godwin Ako Gunn, Alistair Nelson and Salifu ‘Mugabe’ Maase are the infamous ‘Montie 3’, jailed for four months for contempt, after they threatened the lives of Justices of the Supreme Court.
The thought process of the ordinary Ghanaian must be so fascinating to delve into. Most of us know very little about the world, yet venture to make pronouncements far above our knowledge realm with the utmost confidence, as if what we are saying is the most reasonable and factual statement in the world.
It’s an affliction that cuts all across the society, from the elderly to the young, the rich to the poor, the literate to the illiterate. It’s why our politics is carried out at a kindergaten level, where slogans and tribal instincts are more important than policies and facts.
Lawyers representing the so-called ‘Montie 3’ have revealed that they intend to petition the President, John Dramani Mahama, to pardon the three and commute their sentences.
Panelists Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn, as well as show host Salifu ‘Mugabe’ Maase, were each handed four month jail sentences after being found guilty of contempt for insulting and threatening the lives of Supreme Court justices.
