Granting pardon won't kill Mahama’s political career - Omane Boamah

Minister of Communications, Dr Edward Omane Boamah has rejected warnings that President John Mahama’s will cause his own ‘political death’ if he agrees to a request to grant pardon to the jailed trio in the Montie 3 saga.

Salifu Maase aka Mugabe, a presenter on NDC affiliated radio station Montie FM and two panelists Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn, who recently appeared on the Pampaso show, were found guilty of scandalizing the court, defying and lowering the authority of the Supreme Court and bringing it into disrepute.

The two on June 29, warned judges of Ghana’s highest court to be wary of their conduct in the case involving the Electoral Commission and Mr Abu Ramadan if they did not want to suffer the fate of the three members of the bench who were shot to death and burnt on June 30, 1982 in the era of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).

The Supreme Court a fortnight ago handed a four months jail term each to the three men. They were additionally fined GHC 10,000 each.

The NDC has described the sentencing as harsh with party supporters mounting pressure on leaders of the party and President John Mahama to use his executive powers as enshrined in Article 72 of the constitution to grant the three jailed persons pardon.

Supporters of the NDC who believe the sentencing is harsh have mounted pressure on President John Mahama to use his executive powers as enshrined in Article 72 of the constitution to grant the three jailed persons pardon.

A petition book opened to gather signatures to be presented to President Mahama seeking pardon for the trio has been signed by leading members of the NDC including ministers of state, which currently being studied by the Council of State for advice after President Mahama forwarded it to the Council.

The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) on the other hand is also gathering signatures to counter the petition by the NDC.

Some politicians and social commentators including Kweku Baako Jnr, Lawyer Sam Okudzeto and CPP Flagbearer Ivor Greenstreet have cautioned President Mahama against granting the pardon arguing that the President will be causing his ‘political death’ if he should accede to the request.

But speaking to Paul Adom Ochere on Good Evening Ghana on Metro TV Tuesday night Dr Omane Boamah dismissed any such caution to the President.

“That is to say that if the President acted according to law it is inimical to his political career, President Mahama’s political career, by the grace of God with the support of the sovereign people of Ghana as president will be terminated on January 6th 20121.”