Pro-NDC group opens petition book for Montie 3

A group aligned to the National Democratic Congress has opened a petition book requesting a presidential pardon for jailed broadcaster Salifu Maase, and two other radio panellists Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn.

The three were sentenced to four month imprisonment by the Supreme Court on Wednesday following contempt proceedings against them.

They had threatened to harm the judges who sat on the case challenging the suitability of the voters' register by Abu Ramadan and Garry Nimako in a radio discussion on Accra-based Montie FM.

"A Petition Book has been opened at the premises of Radio Gold at Laterbiokoshie and the Freedom Centre at Kokomlemle requesting abatement of the sentence and/or a Presidential Pardon. All are encouraged to go and sign the books at any of the two places," The Research and Advocacy Platform (RAP) said in a statement signed by its convener, Abu Razak.

RAP condemned the custodial sentence imposed on the three as "excessive and has the potential to severely curtail the right to free speech which is a fundamental right enshrined in the 1992 Constitution."

The Research and Advocacy Platform said it is taking a number of steps aimed at mobilising Ghanaians of all shades of opinion to Petition the President to invoke Article 72 of the Constitution to offer the imprisoned three a reprieve from this harsh sentence.

On Thursday afternoon, irate supporters of the NDC gathered in front of the party's headquarters in Accra to press home their demand for the release of the trio who were sentenced to four month imprisonment by the Supreme Court.

They implored on the president to invoke Article 72 of the Constitution.

Article 72(1) of the 1992 constitution says that the President may in consultation with the Council of State grant a person convicted of an offence a pardon either free or subject to lawful conditions.