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
-
GES opens applications for non-teaching staff promotion; here’s who qualifies
10 minutes -
What Is Wrong With Us: We fly halfway around the world to admire discipline, then fly home to tolerate chaos
12 minutes -
Discipline must not become abuse in raising children – ARK Foundation
19 minutes -
Photos: Culture, technology and cuisine take centre stage at Russia’s youth festival
20 minutes -
‘Who approved Laboma structures?’ – Victoria Bright calls for review of permitting system
26 minutes -
“The Darkest Chapter”: Latif Abubakar’s 21st production brings President Mahama’s UN reckoning to the National Theatre stage
30 minutes -
Teacher, three others investigated over alleged kidnapping of suspected MoMo fraudster in Kumasi
31 minutes -
Afenyo-Markin mourns Bernice Offei, describes her songs as ‘sermons set to music’
31 minutes -
Don’t just learn AI tools, use them to improve productivity – ALX Enterprise
38 minutes -
Free rabies vaccination campaign targets 25,000 dogs and cats nationwide
44 minutes -
Ghana needs a system to track child protection funding to where risks are highest – ARK Foundation
47 minutes -
AI may not replace humans, but workers who fail to adapt could lose jobs – ALX Enterprise
49 minutes -
Gideon Boako: Bretton Woods is fraying; Ghana has built a bridge
50 minutes -
Ghana’s child protection system failing children despite laws and policies – ARK Foundation
51 minutes -
‘Future of Black Queens is safe for many years’ – Black Princesses boss Charles Sampson
54 minutes