The Progressive People’s Party has described President John Mahama as weak for bowing to pressure from his National Democratic Congress (NDC) to pardon the Montie three.
“The President has proven weak amidst pressure from party members whose intentions are based on sentiments and emotions without looking at the interest of the state,” the PPP said in a statement signed by its National Secretary.
[contextly_sidebar id=”twll35buDYDNrqQ2PvZGkvwVbbkgKxET”]The party has also said the President’s decision “to pardon the Montie three is in bad faith and will remain a scar on our democratic credentials.”
President Mahama yesterday [Monday] granted remission to the incarcerated three after consultation with the Council of State.
The three; Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, had been sentenced to serve four months in jail and paid a fine of GHc10,000 each.
But the trio have now been granted their freedom three months early after public support from sympathisers of Montie FM as well was key members of the NDC and government via petitions to the President.
The PPP had been vocal in its opposition to the petitions to pardon the three and it even opened its own unsuccessful petition to compel the President to ignore the calls for clemency.
‘President has rendered Judiciary toothless’
Following this development, the PPP also held that, “By exercising his powers per article 72 to pardon the three contemnors, the President has rendered the judicial services toothless and ineffective.”
The PPP also expressed disappointment in the Council of State regarding their role in advising the President whilst calling upon members of the Council of State “to come out clearly on this matter in order to set records straight.”
Find below the full statement
The President’s decision to pardon the Montie 3 is in bad faith and will remain a scar on our democratic credentials. The President has proven weak amidst pressure from party members whose intentions are based on sentiments and emotions without looking at the interest of the state. By exercising his powers per article 72 to pardon the three contemnors, the President has rendered the Judicial services toothless and ineffective.
The history and tradition of the NDC regarding alleged murder of judges, victimization of journalists and threats to judges (“there are many ways to kill a cat”) recently was enough deterrent for John Mahama to thread with caution not hasten to destroy the little credibility the NDC chalked under the watch of his predecessor, the late Professor J.E.A Mills.
1 Corrithians 10:23 of the Holy Bible says that “All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify”. In fact, the President may have acted constitutionally but has tempered with the powers of the judiciary which will go a long way to affect the work of the judges in future. The prerogative right of mercy granted by the President was uncalled for and untimely.
The Progressive People’s Party is also disappointed in the council of state regarding their role and advised to the President. The PPP is sure not all council members were on the same page with the President and his NDC appointees. We therefore call upon members of the council of state to come out clearly on this matter in order to set records straight. May our conscience be the better judge.
We reiterate our pledge of manning a just and disciplined society when elected into power; where laws are enforced without the consideration of party colourization and sympathy to cronies and political henchmen and women. The President has committed a political suicide and the people of Ghana must bury his political ambitions come December 7, 2016.
Murtala Mohammed (National Secretary)
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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana