The Foreign Affairs Minister, Hanna Tetteh, has signed the petition seeking a presidential pardon for the jailed Montie FM host and panelists despite earlier stating that she did not feel compelled to do so. Hanna Tetteh had criticised the length of the sentence given to Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, who are to serve four months in jail , after being found guilty of contempt by the Supreme Court.
In a tweet on Tuesday, she stated that she wanted to clarify her position on the issue and would be signing the petition “later today” [Tuesday]
Just so that my position no longer in doubt & its clear that I’m of the view that the sentence was harsh I’ll be signing the petition today— Hanna Tetteh (@HannaTetteh) August 9, 2016
Several Ministers have already signed a petition, which was presented to President Mahama and subsequently forwarded to the Council of State for their Consideration.
Education Minister, Jane Naana Opoku Agyemang, deputy Education Minister Sam Okudzeto Ablakwa, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare and Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur all endorsed the petition.
While reiterating that she felt the sentence was harsh, Hanna Tetteh had earlier stated that she didn’t feel pressured to emulate the actions of her colleagues and sign the petition.
When asked why she had not signed in an interview with Bernard Avle on The Ghana Report on Viasat One, Hanna Tetteh said :“ I don’t think it is for me to do that.” “[My colleagues] are entitled to do so [sign the petition] if they so wish,” he said.
Human rights advocacy group, Amnesty International, have also waded into the debate, calling on President Mahama to pardon the trio if he believes that they have shown remorse for their comments on the Accra-based radio station.
A counter petition book seeking the President’s dismissal of the earlier petitions has been opened by the Progressive People’s Party (PPP) and signed by the party’s flagbearer Papa Kwesi Nduom.
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