Maurice Ampaw On Hunger Strike

Popular Ghanaian lawyer, Maurice Ampaw, has declared a 10-day hunger strike to register his protest against the release of the 'Montie 3' who are serving a four-month jail term after they were convicted of contempt charges.

The actual release of the trio will take effect on August 26, 2016.

“I won't eat for 10 days and it started this morning. It is not easy but I have to do this to register my protest against the impunity that President John Mahama has exhibited.

“The action he has taken is wrong and has an indirect way of encouraging people to break the law. What the Supreme Court did was to deter people from misbehaving but the president seems to be against the attempt by the courts to make the laws of Ghana work.

“I do not believe Ghanaians should retain John Mahama, he does not deserve to be president, if this is the way he would be freeing persons who have offended the law. He is a one-sided president who cannot be a father for all,” an embittered Maurice Ampaw told NEWS-ONE.

The 'Montie 3' consists of Salifu 'Mugabe' Maase, a radio host at Accra-based Montie FM and two panelists, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako-Gunn, were found guilty for scandalising the court and sentenced to four months in prison.

After serving barely a month in prison, the government of Ghana issued a statement on Monday, announcing… “The President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, has, in consultation with the Council of State and in exercise of his constitutional powers under Article 72 of the Constitution, remitted the remainder of the prison sentence imposed on three persons: Salifu Maase (alias Mugabe), Alistair Nelson and Ako Gunn, who were sentenced to four months’ imprisonment and a fine of GH¢10, 000.00 each for contempt of court. The remission is effective 26th August, 2016.”

My hunger strike is achieving the intended effect because it is gaining national and international attention, and everyone is aware that there are several Ghanaians, including myself, Maurice Ampaw, against the president's action.

“There are many ways of protesting. Some may riot, some may demonstrate, some may write articles, some may go on hunger strike like me,” Lawyer Ampaw added.