
Audio By Carbonatix
Supreme Court upholds presidential pardon granted radio show host and two others saying the power of President in this instance cannot be questioned.
The Supreme has by a majority decision ruled that former President, John Dramani, did no wrong in granting a presidential pardon to a radio show host and two others convicted of contempt.
Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn, and Salifu Maase who were part of a political talk show on Accra-based Montie FM were jailed on July 27, 2016, following threats, made live on radio, to kill some judges whose judgements they disagreed with.
They also threatened to rape the Chief Justice then, Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, on the same show.
One of them, Godwin Ako-Gun, was elected Deputy Communications Officer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) just last weekend.
Despite a three-month jail sentence handed by the Supreme Court, the NDC supporters were set free by then President, John Dramani Mahama on August 22, 2016, after they had served a little over three weeks in jail.
Read: Mahama frees Montie 3
Listen to President Mahama speak on why he granted them pardon in the audio attached:
Three legal practitioners Nana Asante Bediatuo, Elipklim Agbemeva; and Alfred Yeboah then headed to the apex court asking for a declaration that the pardon granted them is null and void. They maintain the then President did not have the power to grant pardons in criminal contempt matters.
Delivering the decision of the Panel, Justice Adinyira said the President's powers to grant pardons covers criminal contempt. She added that this cannot be questioned by the court.
The court 's decision was a majority 5-2 decision comprising Justices Adinyira, Baffour Bonnie, Appau, Pwamang, Benin.
Justices Anin Yeboah and Dotse disagreed with the majority decision.
Latest Stories
-
AI and the future of Jobs: Ghana’s AI Strategy and opportunities for youth action
11 minutes -
Ghana scores 22 out of 100 on budget transparency, raising accountability concerns
14 minutes -
Sentuo Oil Refinery expansion to create 1,500 jobs, boost energy security – John Jinapor
28 minutes -
Adwoa Safo: JoyNews at sickbed of injured former Dome-Kwabenya MP
35 minutes -
Partey wins JAC Motors MVP award after performance in Black Stars draw with England
41 minutes -
GES PRO urges GTEC to publish accredited institutions instead of focusing on unaccredited schools
53 minutes -
WASSCE candidate who died after final paper identified as 18-year-old Notre Dame SHS student
58 minutes -
Sentuo Oil Refinery capacity to increase from 40,000 to 100,000 barrels per day – Energy Minister
60 minutes -
GTEC list of unrecognised institutions in Ghana: Doxa, Debest, Faith University among 70+ flagged
1 hour -
Unilever. Guinness. FanMilk. Kasapreko beat them all
1 hour -
Trump asks Congress for $87.6bn for Iran war after Republican showdown
1 hour -
Explorco to start Voltaian Basin oil drilling in 2026 as Sentuo refinery expands to 100,000 barrels per day
1 hour -
GJA seeks legal guidance after journalist Larry Dogbey is jailed for contempt
1 hour -
NPP refers petitions against Kennedy Agyapong to disciplinary committee
1 hour -
Families lay flowers on barbed wire barricade on anniversary of deadly Kenya protests
1 hour