The Montie 3 convicts are expected to be out of prisons today after President John Mahama last week granted them remission on their four-month jail term.
Onua News’ Maxwell Otoo who is monitoring events at the Nsawam Prisons in the Eastern Region reports that the gate of the prisons is yet to be opened.
He also reports that no family members or crowd are currently at the scene to meet their beloved.
Montie 3 jailed four months
The Supreme Court on July 27 2016 jailed the three contemnors in the Montie FM case to four months imprisonment.
Alistair Nelson, a member of the Progressive Peoples Party (PPP), Godwin Ako Gunn, a member of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the talk show host Salifu Maase, aka ‘Mugabe’ and owners of the station were all found guilty of contempt for threatening to eliminate the judges sitting on the voters’ register case.
The accused were found guilty for scandalizing the court, defying and lowering the authority of the court and bringing it into disrepute by a panel chaired by Justice Sophia Akuffo.
Nelson had apologized to the Apex Court for his utterances claiming he was under the influence of a strange disease known in the local parlance as “kpokpogbligbli.”
The directors of the radio station – Montie FM – were also summoned before the court in the contempt case.
‘Mugabe’ had also pleaded for forgiveness because he has been a journalist of good repute for 15 years.
But Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, were sentenced to serve four months term jail and fined Ghc10,000 each.
Mahama pardons Montie 3
President John Dramani Mahama remitted the four months prison sentence handed to the Montie FM host, and the two panelists.
This was after a petition signed by top government officials and NDC functionaries, was presented to the President asking him to pardon the three.
The petition was received by the President and forwarded to the council of state for advice.
Full statement
PRESIDENT GRANTS REMISSION OF SENTENCE TO THREEE CONTEMNORS
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.)
(Communications Minister)
By Kweku Antwi-Otoo/Onua 95.1FM