The Supreme Court by a 5-2 majority decision has dismissed a suit filed by three separate individuals challenging the pardon of three contemnors known as Montie 3 by former President John Dramani Mahama.
The apex court insisted that the powers of the president included granting presidential pardons and once due process was followed, the court cannot question it.
Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and radio host, Salifu Maase aka Mugabe were convicted and sentenced to four months imprisonment for contempt of court.
The court also fined the three GH₵30,000, with each paying GH₵10,000.
The panelists had on a radio discussion on Accra-based Montie FM threatened to kill judges for their handling on the lawsuit challenging the credibility of Ghana’s voters’ register.
The three convicted on July 27, 2016, were granted Presidential Pardon in August 2016, after serving a little over three weeks in jail.
But Nana Asante Bediatuo; Elipklim Agbemeva and Alfred Yeboah represented by lawyers Mr Bright Obeng Manu, Mr Akoto Ampaw, and Dr Ernest Owusu Dapaah challenged the authority of the then president.
Read: Lawyer files suit to get ‘Montie 3’ in jail again
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Flashback: Montie 3 with their legal team after their release in 2016[/caption]
To the plaintiffs had argued that the former President could not arrogate unto himself powers exclusively within the bosom of the Judiciary per the 1992 Constitution.
They pleaded with the apex court to declare the pardon null and void, but their request was rejected by the Supreme Court on Wednesday, November 21, 2018.
Justices Sophia Adinyira, Baffour Bonnie, Yaw Apau, Gabriel Pwamang and Anthony Benin upheld the pardon granted the Montie 3. Justices Anin Yeboah and Jones Dotse however disagreed with the majority decision
The decision is coming barely four days after Godwin Ako-Gun was elected Deputy Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress on Sunday, November 18, 2018.
Read also: Released Montie 3 apologise to CJ, judges; recall difficult month in jail
Source: 3news.com | Ghana]]>
