An Islamic scholar and spokesperson to the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu has waded into the controversy over a petition for a presidential pardon for the Montie Three, saying President Mahama must not grant any amnesty.
Speaking to Citi News, Sheikh Shaibu said that the President must remain principled to be a point of reference.
His comment follows the decision of some Ministers of State and NDC loyalists to petition the President for a pardon for the Montie trio.
According to him, the President must save his integrity in matters of the law.
He added that, the way people act with impunity concerning the freedom of speech “needs to be stopped” since they tend to abuse it.
Sheikh Aremeyaw Shaibu noted that “I do not support the idea for a presidential pardon particularly to save the president’s own integrity and his neutrality in matters of law”.
He condemned the public for mounting “pressure on the president to grant that amnesty to the people”.
Background
Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, were sentenced to serve four months in jail after they were found guilty of contempt charges.
The National Democratic Congress (NDC),condemned the four-month jail-term given to the trio.
The party’s response came after the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hanna Tetteh, described the sentencing as harsh.
Other ministers have also signed petition asking the president to use his prerogative of mercy to grant pardon to the convicted persons.
The book, opened by a group known as the Research and Advocacy Platform (RAP), has so far garnered several signatures including those of high-profile government officials including the deputy minister of Education in charge of Tertiary, Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare and the Education Minister, Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang.
However, the founder and flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, has signed the petition urging President John Mahama to respect the judgement of the Supreme Court against the Montie trio.
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By: Kuukua Buahin/citifmonline.com/Ghana