Two political parties, the People’s National Convention and the Progressive People’s People, have in separate press statements expressed disappointment at, and condemned, the decision by President Mahama to free the ‘Montie 3’ through a presidential pardon.
The statements were issued in reaction to President Mahama’s decision on Monday, August 21, 2006, after consultation with the Council of State, to release the three, Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, who were sentenced to serve four months in jail in addition to a fine of Ghc10, 000 each by the Supreme Court that convicted them for contempt.
The statement from the PNC, signed by its General Secretary, Atik Mohammed, said even though they recognize the powers given the president by the constitution to pardon convicted persons, it would have been better if it had been exercised in the collective interest of the nation.
“To this end, we find the decision by the President to grant remission to these the Montie trio reprehensible, as it clearly undermines our collective efforts at deepening democracy and promoting national cohesion. By this singular decision, the President has sought to establish a precedent that suggests that, individuals with sympathy to the NDC convicted of crimes against the state are more deserving of his mercy than other ordinary Ghanaians,” Atik Mohammed pointed out.
He continued that there are thousands of innocent prisoners in Ghanaian jails who equally need the President to come to their aid but unfortunately are unlucky because they are not sympathizers of the NDC.
“It is our view also that, the President’s decision further provides insurance for all his sympathizers and NDC supporters in general, who wish to foment trouble in this year’s election to do so with impunity knowing pretty well the President will be there to guarantee their freedom. This certainly is not a good omen with 100 days to the polls,” the PNC General Secretary noted.
The PPP, on its part, said the decision by President Mahama to pardon the three is in bad faith and a scar on the democratic credentials of Ghana.
Tagging him as weak, the PPP accused the President of kowtowing to pressures from party members whose intentions are based on sentiments and emotions without looking at the interest of the state is very unfortunate.
According to Murtala Mohammed, National Secretary of the PPP, who signed the statement, history did not favour the NDC, when it comes to alleged murder of judges, maltreatment of journalists and threats to members of the bench.
The PPP added that President Mahama should have taken into consideration all these instances before hurriedly succumbing to pressure from his party members into releasing the three.
Murtala Mohammed in the statement indicated that the action of the President, though constitutional, was uncalled for and wrongly timed.
Taking on the Council of State, the PPP said they were disappointed in the sort of advice given the President by the council, stressing, “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,” the PPP proposed.
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