Do you have power to release Abuga Pele? - Pratt chides Nii Lantey

Seasoned journalist Kwesi Pratt has taken a swipe at the NDC Member of Parliament for Odododiodio, Nii Lante Vanderpuye over his unsavory comment on the imprisonment of Abuga Pele.

Abuga Pele, the former National Coordinator of the Ghana Youth Employment and Entrepreneurial Agency (GYEEDA), was sentenced together with the Chief Executive Officer of Goodwill International Group, Philip Assibit, to a combined jail-term of 18 years on various counts, including willfully causing financial loss to the state.

But addressing NDC faithfuls during the party's Unity Walk over the weekend at Somanya in the Eastern Region, Nii Lante Vanderpuye stressed that should the NDC win the general elections in 2020; the party will ensure the release of Abuga Pele.

“It is unfortunate but I can only say that this will not dampen the spirit of the NDC. Between 2001 and 2004, they sentenced Tsatsu Tsikata, Dan Abodakpi, Ibrahim Adam and Kwame Peprah. It did not stop us from winning elections in 2008. We are going to win the elections and bring Abuga Pele out", he stated.

Making his submissions on Peace FM's Kokrokoo, Kwesi Pratt expressed disgust over those comments indicating that his disappointment in the MP.

According to him, the statements are at variance with rule of law and so asked what motivated the MP to make such a bold statement knowing very well that it was a court of competent jurisdiction that the former NDC MP to prison.

“Do you have the power to release him?" Mr. Pratt questioned.

He also dismissed claims that the ruling New Patriotic Party was on a witch-hunting agenda, a reason for imprisoning Abuga Pele.

He sought to remind Nii Lante Vanderpuye that it was not the NPP government that summoned Abuga Pele to court but the erstwhile NDC government under the leadership of Ex-President John Dramani Mahama.

In his earnest view, the court has delivered its verdict and so, if the MP and or any person sympathetic towards Abuga Pele could seek an appeal with the Supreme Court to review the verdict if the court finds any merit in their appeal case.

To him, the MP's adamant position not to even retract his comment is very disturbing.

" . . If that’s the issue, we should close all the Police stations. There’s no need for even the courts so that you do what you want to do”.