Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Salifu Maase, popularly known as 'Montie 3' have been released from prison after President John Mahama remitted the rest of their sentence.
One of the lawyers for the three, Edudzi Tamakloe confirmed this on his Facebook page with a post saying "Happy seeing our clients after they were released from the Akuse Prison. They were initially at Nsawam prison. God bless President Mahama. God bless Ghana.”
The three were given a four month sentence in July for criminal contempt of court after they threatened the lives of Supreme Court Justices on a live Montie FM radio programme.
After the three were sentenced, President John Mahama was petitioned to exercise his prerogative of mercy powers per Article 72 of the constitution to free them. According to the petitioners, the three have shown remorse for their comments hence the four month sentence was too harsh. The petition was subsequently forwarded to the Council of State according to the Constitution.
A statement signed by the Minister of Communications, Dr. Edward Omane Boamah, explained that the President had taken a decision to pardon the three on ‘compassionate grounds’ given the remorse they had demonstrated.
He further said in an interview on Peace FM that it is inappropriate for Ghanaians especially the opposition parties to criticise President Mahama for freeing the Montie 3 because they have not been pardoned. Their sentence has been remitted he said.
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