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Deputy General Secretary of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), George Lawson says attacks on government appointees for signing petition book to free Montie squad are “needless”.

He explained that the ministers’ action are simply an exercise of their “democratic rights” against a decision by the apex court which he described as “harsh”.

Deputy Education Minister in charge of Tertiary, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Head of the Presidential Delivery Unit, Valerie Sawyerr, Dep Minister of Communications, Felix Ofosu Kwakye, among other high-profile government appointees last Thursday, signed a petition book, opened on the premises of pro-government station Radio Gold, ostensibly to pile pressure on President Mahama, to free the Montie FM trio, jailed by the Supreme Court.

The trio; Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, alias Mugabe, were sentenced to serve four months in jail on Wednesday, after they were found guilty of contempt charges.

This was after they threatened the lives of the judges who were presiding over a case on the credibility of the voters’ register.

The incumbent NDC leadership has described the sentencing as harsh and mounting pressure on President John Dramani Mahama to grant the three a presidential pardon.

But the signing of the petition book by the state appointees has generated some arguments – many are against their timing for signing the book.

However, speaking to Peacefmonline.com George Lawson questioned that – “Are those ministers not Ghanaians, don’t they have their democratic rights? It is constitutionally right for them to sign the book. Those against that should take time and read the constitution very well”

“The ministers have a right to call on the president in times like this. This is their democratic right, it’s not a privilege. Nobody can stop them from doing so,” he pointed out.