Montie Gang Caged

By Mohammed Awal [[email protected]]
The Supreme Court yesterday slapped a four-month prison sentence on each of the three infamous Montie FM panellists and the host, who issued threats to judges of the highest court of the land.

This was after the Court, last week, found Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn, the two political commentators and Salifu Maase, aka Mugabe, host of the programme, on which the said threats were issued for disrespecting the Supreme Court.

The decision by the Supreme Court to impose a four month custodial sentence on what has become known as 'Montie 3' has sent strong signal to media practitioners and non-practitioners invited to contribute to political discussions on radio that, it is no more going to tolerate hate speeches and attacks on the judiciary.

The Directors of the Accra based radio station; Edward Addo, Harry Zakhour, Ato Ahwoi and Kwesi Kyei Atua, however, escaped custodial sentence, but were also slapped with heavy fines of GH¢30,000 for being irresponsible and careless.

The court, presided over by Justice Sophia Akuffo, further added that the conduct of the 'Montie 3' defied and lowered the authority of the court, thus bringing it into disrepute.

Some weeks ago, Alistar Nelson and his co-panellist, Godwin Ako Gunn threw caution to the wind and made frightening statements against members of the bench, such as:

“Today you want to sit there and use your left hands to point at things to destroy this nation, we know your homes. Mugabe, the High Court judges, I can stand at one junction and tell you where all of them live, or most of the influential ones live.”

Following the threat, a Ghanaian citizen, Richard Asante Yeboah, instituted the contempt proceedings against the duo and the host of the programme.

The proceedings were expected to start on the 12th of July, but because they were not served on time, the case was adjourned to July 18, 2016.

The three, supposedly brave men, expressed remorse and pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy. The court adjourned the case to July 27, after the contemnors had been found guilty of “scandalizing the court, defying and lowering the authority of the court and bringing the authority of the court into disrepute.”

Mugabe, who many thought was ready for prison sentence after claiming he was no better than the likes of Tsatsu Tsikata, who had been there before, when he was summoned, said he regretted his comments and consequently rendered an apology to the judges.

Although doubtful, he explained that his producer on the day of the programme was ill, which meant that there was no one in the studio of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) platform, to put him on his toes.

Despite all the pleas from counsel of the contemnors to prevent the tape from being played due to its shameful and embarrassing contents, it was done in the interest of justice, as posited by the presiding judge.

Counsel for the host of the programme was Nana Agyei Ampofo, while that of Alistair and Godwin Gunn was George Loh. The owners of the station, Harry Zakour, Edward Addo, Kwasi Attuah and Kwakye Bram Larbi, who were also cited for contempt, were represented by Nana Ato Dadzie.

Affail Monney, President of the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) expressed hope the news of the four months sentencing of the Montie three would serve as a lesson to journalists and media commentators.

He told Joy FM's Midday news that: “We pray that none of our members again will fall victim of the law…so that we all join forces to confront what is facing us in election 2016.

“We pray that the media landscape will continue to be free…this is not to say that we are not free. In fact, we are free. But we all know that as we excise freedom…we should actualize its responsibilities,” added Affail Monney.

He said journalism is a profession that rests on two main pillars that is “Freedom and Responsibility” – and that practitioners must be mindful of them.

“This is the message we continue to preach to our people,” he said, advising officialdom and law enforcement agencies not to do anything to haunt any journalist as it would have serious implications on media freedom.  “Freedom is a very essence of our profession and nothing should be done to shackle us,” he added.