Lawyers for the three contemnors who were jailed four months for issuing death threats to the superior court justices have planned sending a petition to President John Mahama to exercise his prerogative of mercy on them.
A statement issued by Nana Ato Dadzie and George Loh, lawyers for the three, on behalf of the three said the sentence was “harsh and excessive”, adding: “We also do not believe that citizens of Ghana ought to be committed to prison for infractions on free expression especially in light of the repeal of the criminal libel law. Our clients have directed us in the circumstances to petition His Excellency the President of the Republic to exercise his powers of prerogative of mercy under Article 72 of the constitution of Ghana”.
This comes at a time when supporters of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) have planned to march to the party’s headquarters in Accra in protest to the four months’ jail term.
“Let’s call on our leaders to rise up for justice and protect our media men and communicators. Let’s march till meaning is given to the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law… Mugabe and Co must be set free, the president must speak now,” a circular from the supporters said.
The ruling NDC party’s Chairman, Kofi Portuphy also in a statement said: “This judgment sends an unfortunate impression about Ghana, its judiciary and severely dents our enviable reputation as a beacon of democracy on the African continent and beyond. The judgement also may undermine our position among countries with the freest media in the world.”
