The Research and Advocacy Platform is garnering signatories from Ghanaians that could lead to a presidential pardon for three contemnors jailed by the Supreme Court Wednesday.

Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn, panelists on Accra-based Montie FM together with their host Salifu Maase aka ‘Mugabe’ were sentenced to four months imprisonment after issuing death threats to judges of the Supreme Court at a radio programme earlier this month.

They were found guilty of scandalizing the court, defying and lowering the authority of the court and bringing it into disrepute by the court.

But the Research and Advocacy Platform in a statement contends that the four months custodial sentence is “excessive and has the potential to severely curtail the right to free speech”.

“A Petition Book has been opened at the premises of Radio Gold at Laterbiokoshie and the Freedom Centre at Kokomlemle requesting abatement of the sentence and/or a Presidential Pardon.”

Below is the full statement

RAP mobilzes to protect Free Speech

The Research and Advocacy Platform has noted the imprisonment of a journalist and two Ghanaian citizens by the Supreme Court yesterday for comments they made about the court in a broadcast on Montie Fm.

RAP notes the need to uphold the integrity of vital state institutions like the Supreme Court. We nonetheless believe that the four months custodial sentence imposed on the three is excessive and has the potential to severely curtail the right to free speech which is a fundamental right enshrined in the 1992 Constitution.

We are consequently taking a number of steps aimed at mobilising Ghanaians of all shades of opinion to Petition the President to invoke Article 72 of the Constitution to offer the imprisoned three a reprieve from this harsh sentence.

A Petition Book has been opened at the premises of Radio Gold at Laterbiokoshie and the Freedom Centre at Kokomlemle requesting abatement of the sentence and/or a Presidential Pardon.

All are encouraged to go and sign the books at any of the two places.

Abu Razak

Convener

Source: 3news.com |