CPP appalled by release of ‘Montie trio’
The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has stated that it is appalled by President Mahama’s decision to remit the sentence of the ‘Montie 3’ contemnors who were convicted by the Supreme Court last month.
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The CPP’s press statement, which was signed by the Director of Communication, Issifu Kadiri Rauf, stated that even though legally speaking, the President’s power of pardon in cases such as this could not be questioned because he is at liberty to act as he deemed fit, it would naturally be expected that he exercised this power in a manner consistent with the safety and integrity of the state.
Pandoras box
‘’As it stands, the CPP fears the decision of the President would rather open a pandora’s box for similar cause of actions in future. The reputation of the NDC vis-à-vis the Court is nothing to write home about, given the history of the painful murder of Justices in moments past,’’ the release stated.
It said the CPP thought an opportunity had presented itself for the NDC to prove to the contrary their respect for justices, but unfortunately this rare opportunity was allowed to slip by.
‘’If in the wisdom of the President and the Council of State they think that the ‘‘Montie trio’’ should be pardoned, even when they threatened to rape justices of the Supreme Court, the CPP ideally should not have a problem with this; nonetheless, we are extremely worried about the future of our country and the bad signal this sends outside the domain of law,” the release said.
Decisiveness
It said several Ghanaians for long had expressed fear about the decisiveness of the President and the CPP minimally would have thought the President would cease the opportunity to stamp his authority against intense pressure from his party. On the contrary, the President sacrificed the larger expectation of the people for partisan interest.
The release said “the CPP supports the work of the media so far as it is helping in the nation-building exercise, and that it was in this light that the party had called for a greater sense of responsibility and responsiveness in the media landscape”.
‘’Undoubtedly, the Constitution allows Ghanaians the freedom to express their views without inhibition, but where citizens threaten to kill and rape, it is admittedly outside the freedom of expression, but falls under intimidation, threats, harassment and fear. These conduct we suggest should be discouraged and condemned by well-meaning citizens’’.
The party equally urged all political party commentators who mount platforms to talk on behalf of their parties, to be considerate, circumspect, and wise in their utterances. They should constantly be mindful of the feelings and rights of the millions of Ghanaians who are apolitical.
