Montie FM panelists, Mugabe jailed 4-months

The Supreme Court has handed a four-month prison sentence to the host of the ‘Pampaso’ political show on Accra-based Montie FM, Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, and the two panelists, Alistair Nelson, and Godwin Ako Gunn, for threatening to kill judges of the Supreme Court during a radio discussion.

The three were also fined Ghc30, 000, with each of them paying Ghc10, 000.

Failure to pay the amount according to the Court will attract another one-month prison term. They have up to tomorrow, Thursday, July 28, to pay the amount.

The four directors of the station, which include Harry Zakuor, Ato Ahwoi, Edward Addo and Kwesi Kyei Atuah, who are managers of the two media companies, Network Broadcasting Limited and Zeze Media, are to pay Ghc30, 000 each, bringing the amount to Ghc60, 000.

They were also asked to pay the amount by close of day tomorrow, Thursday, July 28.

They were also to provide measures they would put in place to prevent such inflammatory comments on the radio station.

They were all found guilty of contempt charges last week.

The Presiding judge, Sophia Akufo, reading the sentences said the two panelists willfully attacked the Chief Justice and lowered the authority of the court by insisting that they will not accept its judgment on a controversial matter of the voter’s register.

She said they also callously reminded the court of the gruesome murder of three High Court judges more than 30 years ago.

She pointed out that there is an element of criminality in their utterances which the Attorney-General should have noticed and acted upon.

She said the court deserves utmost respect if the country’s democracy is to be safeguarded, and that any conduct that seeks to interfere with the judiciary is an act against the community.

According to the Judge, for a very long time, the judiciary has been attacked verbally and viciously, but they remained quiet.

She explained that it was not their intent to be punishing people anyhow, but they just want to use this as a caution.

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