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The writer, Prof. Ama Ata Aidoo has described as unfortunate calls on the President to grant presidential pardon to the jailed Montie FM contemnors. The three; Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, were sentenced to four months in jail on Wednesday, after they were found guilty of contempt.

Some key figures within the NDC have since signed a petition book, which was opened at the premises of pro-government station Radio Gold to compel the President to free the trio. But Prof. Aidoo in a statement said “it’s unfortunate that the petition was initiated at all, and even more unfortunate that it’s being signed by the likes of the Ministers of Education, and of Gender, Children and Social Protection.” She further argued that “no one who is interested in Ghana as a wholesome space for all human beings, and especially for its young growing population, would want to sign this particular petition to the President of the Republic.” 

Below is her full statement on the petition

About the Petition to President John Mahama to pardon Montie FM presenters, 2 panelists 2 – Salifu Maase aka Mugabe, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn It’s unfortunate that the petition was initiated at all, and even more unfortunate that it’s being signed by the likes of the Ministers of Education, and of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

No one who is interested in Ghana as a wholesome space for all human beings, and especially for its young growing population, would want to sign this particular petition to the President of the Republic.

1. Our understanding as ordinary citizens is that issuing any kind of death threats on any kind of individuals in Ghana or anywhere else in the world is a crime. If that’s the case, then we would want any persons, young or old, whose wellbeing and general behavior we care about who issue any such threats to face the consequences, however unpleasant. After all, that is the only way we would learn from our mistakes and negotiate the future properly. 

2. We would want the NDC and any other Ghanaian political party to hold itself and its members accountable, and ready to face up to any errors and address them as meaningfully as possible. Again, that would be the only way we think political parties can continue to be effective and useful to this nation. 

3. Asking the President to pardon the Montie 3 is not only embarrassing, but it also puts the President of this country in a most awkward position. On one hand, he would not know how not to issue the pardon: in case his rank and file accuse him of not listening to them. On the other hand, pardoning the 3 clearly would send a very wrong message to the entire country. That he does not respect the third estate of the land which is the Judiciary, and he is not interested in the youth of this country ever learning from their mistakes, or the need for any adult Ghanaian to do the proper thing when the occasion demands that. 

4. In fact, and this is my petition to the President. He should join the whole of Ghana to take the opportunity of this rather unfortunate affair as a wake-up call. That threatening anybody with harm, rape, death or causing them injury in anyway including slander is just wrong. Threatening members of the Supreme Court with such violence is certainly not a crime that should be in anyway overlooked or pardoned.