Presidential pardon will cool heads – NDC Youth Organiser

The National Youth Organiser of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sidi Abubakar, has said a presidential pardon for the convicted Montie 3 will help to cool heads of party members and sympathisers as Ghana prepares for elections in December.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday July 27 handed down jail terms and a GHS10,000 fine to host of the ‘Pampaso’ show on Montie FM Salifu Maase aka ‘Mugabe’ and panelists Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn for making contemptuous remarks about justices of the court.

The NDC has expressed their displeasure with the sentencing. Supporters of the party on Thursday July 28 picketed at the party’s headquarters and called on President John Mahama to grant the convicts pardon.

Speaking to Class News’ Paa Kwesi Parker-Wilson in an interview, Mr Abubakar said they will be grateful if the president pardons the convicts.

“Whatever will bring the boys out is what we are calling for…but we cannot decide for the president …but, of course, if the president wishes to do that, we will be very much grateful because that will soften the pressure on the ground because we just have some few months to elections,” he said in reaction to claims that the president was planning a meeting with the Council of State over whether or not to grant the convicts pardon.

“The supporters were here very annoyed thinking that as a party, we should do something, they think we are not in control because why will we allow people who are our own to go through such a thing? They think that we should do something and we are also carrying their concerns to the highest level where we think they could address it. We are also very open to every solution and suggestions that we think will help us get these guys out. The guys must come out”, he added.