Some die-hard supporters of the incumbent National Democratic Congress (NDC), believed to be ardent followers of the ‘Pampamso’ political show on Accra-based Montie FM, hosted by Maase Salifu, alias Mugabe, have held a candle light vigil in honour of Mugabe, and the two panelists of the station, who are languishing in jail at Nsawam, after they were found guilty of contempt charges by the Supreme Court.
The three were sentenced to four months in prison and fined Ghc10, 000 each, after they threatened to kill Supreme Court judges over their handling of the lawsuit on Ghana’s voters’ register.
Montie FM, a pro-government radio station owned senior members of the NDC, is the Twi affiliate to Radio Gold.
The candle light vigil, which started at 7:00pm on Thursday at the premises of Radio Gold at Latebiokoshie in Accra, saw several individuals mostly clad in white, holding their candles.
Some were seen saying prayers for the three.
It appears the vigil was also part of the protest for the release of the three, as some of the white T-Shirts, had the photos of the three boldly printed on them, with the inscription, ‘free Montie 3 now’.
Okudzeto, Sawyerr, others sign petition to free Montie 3
The night vigil comes barely hours after a Deputy Education Minister in charge of tertiary, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa the Deputy Chief of Staff, Valerie Sawyerr, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare and Deputy Energy and Petroleum Minister, Benjamin Dagadu, joined to sign a petition book, opened on the premises of Radio Gold, ostensibly to pile pressure on President Mahama, to free the Montie FM trio, jailed by the Supreme Court.
A group calling itself the Research and Advocacy Platform (RAP), which opened the petition book, is pushing the signature collection in a bid to persuade President Mahama to activate his prerogative of mercy powers under Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution.
[contextly_sidebar id=”AjuNZRQ4S153PpbQ6gBZfcNCjF3kyVq9″]The incumbent NDC leadership in particular has described the sentencing as harsh. Lawyers for the convicts have also served notice they will petition the President to pardon them.
No Mugabe, No vote – NDC supporters to Mahama
Some party members numbering about 30, on Thursday protested at the NDC’s headquarters asking the President to pardon the three or risk losing their votes in the December polls.
Montie FM trio ‘languish’ in Nsawam prison
Meanwhile the two panelists, Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn, and the host of the ‘Pampaso’ show Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, are languishing in jail at Ghana’s major prison facility at Nsawam.
Will he or will he not pardon them?
It remains to be seen whether or not the President will yield to pressure from his party to free the three, or that he will uphold the sanctity and authority of the court.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AfanyiDadzie