Decision to pardon Montie 3 not unpopular – Gov’t

The government has dismissed suggestions that most Ghanaians are against the decision taken by President John Dramani Mahama to pardon the two Montie FM panelists and host, who were charged of contempt and jailed by the Supreme Court.

Following the announcement of the President's decision to pardon the three in a statement signed by Communication Minister, Edward Omane Boamah, there has been a huge public debate on whether he made the right decision.

Within minutes, “Montie 3” had become the top trending topic in Ghana on Twitter and Facebook, with many people sharing their opinions on the matter.

Although a few of those who commented supported the President's decision, a large number disapproved, with many accusing him of undermining the Judiciary.

Some Ghanaians also shared their thoughts on the Citi Breakfast Show on Tuesday morning with most expressing their disappointment with President Mahama's decision.

However, the Deputy Minister of Communications, Felix Kwakye Ofosu, rejected assertions that most Ghanaians were not in favour of the decision, stating that, although the feedback was appreciated, it would be inaccurate to draw conclusions from the limited number of comments on radio and social media.    

Felix Kwakye Ofosu
“We do not believe that it's an unpopular decision bearing in mind that only a limited number of citizens can get access to radio stations at any particular time,” he said on the Citi Breakfast Show

“An overwhelming majority of Ghanaians may not get access to a radio station or any other platform to express their views. To the extent that there isn't a scientific basis to conclude that a majority of Ghanaians are against the decision, it could be a bit premature to draw that conclusion.”

The president had been under pressure to pardon the three, after two separate petitions were presented to him, endorsed by some Ministers of State and senior members of his party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC).

Education Minister, Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, deputy Education Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur and Foreign Affairs Minister, Hanna Tetteh all endorsed the petition.

Other Ministers including Trade Minister, Ekow Spio Garbrah and Transport Minister, Fiifi Kwetey have visited the trio in jail.

But according to Felix Kwakye Ofosu, it would be wrong to suggest that only members of the NDC had supported the campaign to get the trio freed.

He believes that the support of persons with no affiliation with the party, as well some known members of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and human rights advocacy group Amnesty International proved that others supported it.

“It's not as if it was only NDC members or persons sympathetic to the NDC who have asked for this to be done. If I recall correctly, the first person to ask the President to invoke Article 72 was Profesor Kweku Asare who is a known sympathizer of the NPP. Also Ken Agyapong, a Member of Parliament for the NPP also called for remission except that he asked for two months remission but it was a remission nonetheless,” he said.

“There have been figures like Dr Nyaho Tamakloe who is a known long-standing member of the NPP who also signed a petition for this to be done. Amnesty International, perhaps the leading global human rights organization, also joined the fray and asked for pardons to be given on account of specific points that they made. Of course there are members of the public who belong to the NDC. Traditional leaders have all been involved in this. It is not accurate for it to be said that a majority of Ghanaians are against it.”

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana