The Judicial Service Staff Association of Ghana (JUSSAG), has said they are not perturbed by the decision of President John Dramani Mahama to pardon the Montie FM  trio, who were charged for contempt and jailed by the Supreme Court.

The President on Monday August 22,  freed the three; Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, who had been sentenced to four months in jail and fined Ghc10,000 after they threatened the lives of judges in the country.

Critics say the President’s decision undermines he judiciary but Alex Nartey, President of JUSSAG said that such is not the case.

“I have said that, this remission for Mugabe and co will not affect us in a way. We are still growing as a nation so everything that happens is an opportunity for us to learn and gain experience from.”

He added that “we will not allow it to dampen our spirit or affect our legitimate responsibilities.”

“It is an issue that has happened as a national issue and we will look at it objectively as a national issue that we have to deal with.”

Montie three pardoned on compassionate grounds

A statement signed by the Minister of Communications on Monday, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, said that the President took the decision on ‘compassionate grounds’ given the remorse they had demonstrated.

“The decision of His Excellency the President to remit their sentences on compassionate grounds follows a petition submitted to him by the contemnors appealing to the President to exercise his prerogative of mercy even as they continue to express deep remorse and regret for the unacceptable statements they made against the Judiciary,” the statement said.

Alex Nartey further urged politicians not to intimidate Ghanaians with the powers given to them by the people.

“Why must a true Ghanaian be scared, I don’t believe in that. The politicians I meet, I tell them that they should not deceive themselves into thinking that they are more powerful than the ordinary Ghanaian, not even the least Ghanaian is vulnerable as far as political power is concerned. What can they do? The worst is to use security apparatus to frustrate the person and you don’t gain anything from it. Me as a Ghanaian, there is nothing I am afraid of. I would prefer to die as a victim of injustice than to live as a beneficiary of injustice. When it comes to the truth, I’m prepared to go with the truth than to please any human being who expires in terms of power and life,” he indicated.

Mahama has set unnecessary precedent

Meanwhile, a private legal practitioner, John Ndebugri, has suggested that President  Mahama’s decision is likely to put preassure on successive governments to pardon persons who commit similar offences in future.

“As far as the legal and constitutional aspects of the action are concerned, I will not say that he acted improperly, especially as he has consulted with the Council of State. I have my doubts whether politically it has been correct for him to take the action he has taken. He has set a precedent, two of them in fact, and the future is unpredictable in that respect,” he added.

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source:citifmonline