SC Dismisses Suit Against Montie 3 Pardon

The Supreme Court has in a five-two majority decision dismissed the suit against the grant of pardon to a radio talk show host and two panelists by former president John Dramani Mahama.

The court presided over by Justice Sophia Adenyira said the grant of the pardon by ex-president Mahama could not be questioned by the court.

The judges stated that the grant of the pardon was done within the law.

Former president Mahama granted Salifu Maase, aka Mugabe, host of Accra based Montie FM and two other panelists-Godwin Arku Gunn and Alistair Nelson amnesty after the apex court had found them guilty of contempt in 2016.

They had threatened on a live radio discussion to deal with the judges whose decision they disagreed with.
The contemnors had also threatened to rape the then Chief Justice Georgina Theodora Wood.
Incensed by the actions of the trio, the court convicted them for contempt.

But three weeks into their sentence, ex-president Mahama granted all three a presidential pardon after members of his government had collected signatures to mount pressure for their release.

Unsatisfied with the decision of the Mr. Mahama, three persons- Elepklim Agbemevah, Alfred Tua Yeboah and Nana Asnate Bediatuo in separate suits filed an application at the Supreme Court to ostensibly reverse the pardon and have the three complete the remainder of their sentences.

The applicants had variously argued that contempt of court was not among the cases a president would grant pardon.

By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson