Pardoning Montie 3 will breed impunity - Major-Gen. Coleman

Pressure group - Civic Forum Initiative - has cautioned President John Mahama against bowing to pressure to pardon the Montie three.

The President has come under pressure to pardon the Montie FM radio presenter and his two panelists who have been jailed by the Supreme Court for contempt after they threatened judges on the radio.

Scores of supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress including many ministers of the Mahama-led administration have petitioned the President to activate article 72 and grant pardon to the three individuals.

The President has subsequently presented the petition to the Council of State for their advice on the way forward in the controversial matter.

But speaking to Starr News, chairman of the group Major-General Nii Carl Coleman (rtd) urged the President to be cautious with his handling of the matter.

“Those who are calling for the release of the three have every right, but is it right? Or is it a grand scheme of partisanship to destabilise the country. That is a question we should ask ourselves. The culture of impunity which we have cultivated in Ghana must be broken once and for all.

“You have the freedom to say what you want but once you have said it, that is the end of your freedom; consequences must be there for you to bear. So once they have crossed the line, I don’t see why there should be hue and cry over this.” he said.