Lawyers, Politicians React To Montie 3 Remission

By Maxwell Ofori
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President John Mahama, on Monday, invoked his prerogative power of mercy, under Article 72 of the Constitution, to set free the Montie three, who were jailed four months by the Supreme Court for contempt.

The Communications Ministry issued a statement, signed by its Minister, Dr. Omane Boamah, to the effect that President Mahama had granted the pardon on compassionate grounds, in consultation with the Council of State.

The move by the President has, however, met numerous backlashes from Ghanaians, especially from the other side of the political divide, such as Mr. Ayikoi Otoo, a former Attorney General.

According to him, the freeing of the trio, who were jailed for contempt, suggests that the judges of the Supreme Court, who sentenced the contemnors, were not reasonable.

Ayikoi Otoo said, as myjoyonline reports, “President John Dramani Mahama has slapped the judges in the face [by saying] that they are not reasonable people, and when they are giving sentences, they should think.”

Legal practitioner Egbert Fabille Junior also opposes the decision of the President, and described it as an attack on the judiciary. He said in a Facebook post, moments after the announcement, that: “President Mahama has attacked the judiciary in a most unacceptable manner with the remission of the sentences of the Montie 3.”

Ebo Quansah, General Manager of The Chronicle, also had this to say: “It is sad. The President is saying that once you are with the NDC, you can get away with 'murder'. The country is split down the middle. Thousands of prisoners have petitioned the President over the years, and nobody has listened to them, sadly, we have Montie 3 being released by the President under NDC's pressure.

“It is an upfront to the rule of law; attack on the judiciary, which is the third arm of government. It tells much about the capricious use of power by the government, led by President Mahama. With this decision, President Mahama has lost the moral authority to lead this nation, and Ghanaians must respond accordingly and vote him out.”

Director of Communications of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) Nana Akomea also said the decision by the cabinet ministers to join foot soldiers in signing the petition for the release of the three persons were all part of the orchestration.

He was reacting to the decision by the President to remit the four month sentence handed to the host of Pampaso programme on Montie FM, Salifu Maase, and two other panellists, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako-Gunn.

Nana Akomea told Joy News that the President set out to free these contemnors from the very beginning. He added that the decision is a bad precedent by the President.

“These people have been removed from prison, basically, because they are NDC. President Mahama has chosen to exercise his power of mercy on the basis of partisan consideration. And it is unfortunate,” he said.

However, Communications Minister Dr. Edward Omane Boamah argued that President John Mahama still has unfettered respect for all state institutions, including the judiciary.

Speaking on Joy FM's Super Morning Show, the President's spokesperson said his boss' decision to remit the sentences of the Montie 3, did not in any way undermine the role of the judiciary, but rather affirms his respect for the Constitution.

“President Mahama continues to respect state institutions, and that is why he acted in accordance with the Constitution. He will continue to respect the powers conferred on state institutions, and this includes the legislature, judiciary, executive, the media and citizens of Ghana, which these institutions must serve.

“At all times, he will ensure that he acts in a manner that does not offend the laws of our nation,” he added.