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President John Dramani Mahama has joined the long list of Ghanaians condemning threats by a member of the Progressive Peoples Party, Alistair Tairo Nelson, to unleash mayhem on Supreme Court and High Courts judges if they deliver any judgment against the Electoral Commission.

According to President Mahama, the alleged death threats on the lives of the judges are unhealthy to justice delivery in the country and must be condemned by all well-meaning members of society.

Speaking at a special IFTAR (breaking of fast) with Muslims at the residence of his junior brother, Ibrahim Mahama, Saturday, President Mahama underscored the importance of the judiciary in any democratic dispensation and therefore cautioned that nothing must be done to derail the gains the country has made so far.

Mr Alistair Tairo Nelson, and one Godwin Ako Gunn, a member of the NDC communication team were reported in the media to have allegedly threatened to unleash mayhem on Supreme Court and High Courts judges if they make any judgment against the Electoral Commission, on Accra based radio station, Montie FM on June 29, 2016.

But Mr. Gunn has dismissed suggestions he made any threatening statement against judges. "For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to place it on record that I did not participate in any political discussion program on Montie FM, on the said date. Neither have I ever made comments threatening judges with death or any harm of any sort. The claim by the GBA is therefore false and the call for my arrest completely untenable. I therefore demand a retraction of the GBA statement and an apology for the harm done to my reputation," he stressed

However, Alistair, who has since apologized for his effusions, was reported to have said “I know where the judges live in Accra, I can show you. I know their quarters, the Supreme Court judges. I also know the High Court judges. Yes, I’m telling you, God has a way to show…
If they like, they should bring it on. It will start in their residences, I’m telling you, in their neighborhoods. When we finish them, then it will be over. Then we will come and rule our nation because they don’t wish the nation well. So they have to go. We will see them off to return to where they came from. So that those of us who wish the nation well will take control of the nation and rule it.

So they should sit there, and feel that they are Supreme Court judges so…Look, the EC is insulated, article 45. Go and check. You cannot do what you are doing there. You Supreme Court judges sitting there, what do you do for Ghana? Look at your judges accepting bribes, goats and GH¢100 and others. Are you not ashamed? Senior judges on the bench, by this time all of you should have resigned because of what your juniors were doing. Are you not ashamed?”

The Ghana Bar Association has in a statement signed by its president, Mr. Benson Nutsukpui, called on the Inspector General of Police to as a matter of urgency arrest some of the radio panelist who threatened the lives of judges in the country.

But in a reaction to the GBA statement, and calls by some Ghanaians for his arrest and prosecution, Alistair Tairo Nelson, issued a statement apologizing for making those comments, claiming his comments had been distorted in the public commentary on the matter.

“On Wednesday 29th June, I participated in a program on Montie FM. During my contribution I made statements that in context, content (though conditional) and timing, are regrettable. Notwithstanding the many distortions that have accompanied the numerous public comments, I wish to apologize unreservedly to the listening public, including those who have called to caution and advise, and also to all members of the bench who have been offended by my contribution on the program.”

“I also wish to apologize to the management of Montie FM for the unfortunate development,” the statement added.
Media reports suggest the two radio panelists have since been picked up by the Bureau of National Investigations on Sunday evening for questioning.

But while acknowledging Alistair Nelson’s apology, the President said such comments must not be countenanced as it could spark fear in the judiciary.