President John Mahama’s referral of the Free Montie Petition to the Council of State is a needless and unnecessary sham, the Progressive People’s Party (PPP).
“The whole thing has been choreographed to appear that somehow, the President wanted to do something and he wants to formalize it and make it appear that some due process was activated,” the PPP’s Policy Analyst, Kofi Siaw Asamoah asserted.
The petitions imploring the president to actuate his prerogative of mercy under Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution were from lawyers of the jailed trio and a Civil Society Group, Research & Advocacy Platform were forwarded to the Council of State, through Chief of Staff Julius Debrah for advice.
But Mr. Asamoah rubbished the latest developments as “much ado about nothing” adding that “the President of the Republic doesn’t need the advice of the Council of State.”
“When somebody advises you and the council does so in this particular instance, the President can reject the advice. The President knows what is good for this country is not to pursue the line of the presidential pardon to the Montie 3.” “We think the whole thing is needless, it is unnecessary but if the council needs to act on it, they should advise the President against the presidential pardon,” Mr. Asamoah stated.
The PPP’s petition to keep Montie 3 in jail The PPP started a petition to keep the Montie three in jail as counter point to the “free Montie three” movement
demanding a presidential pardon for the three pro-government communicators.
The PPP believe it will be wrong for the President to respond positively to the “free Montie three” petitions and essentially want their petition to reinforce the Supreme Court’s decision to jail them.
The founder and flagbearer of the Progressive People’s Party (PPP), Dr Papa Kwesi Nduom, himself endorsed the petition urging President John Mahama to respect the judgement of the Supreme Court against the Montie Three.
The three, Godwin Ako Gunn, Alistair Nelson and Maase Salifu were jailed four-months for criminal contempt of the Supreme Court after threatening the lives of Justices.
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