The running mate of the National Democratic Congress flagbearer, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang has defended her support of the infamous Montie Three who were jailed for contempt of court after they threatened the lives of some Justices of the Supreme Court in 2016.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang said her signing of the petition for the pardon of the convicts, was not an endorsement of their actions.
The judges were hearing a case challenging the credibility of the voters’ register.
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After their sentencing, the three; Salifu Maase, Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn received support from many NDC members and government appointees, including Prof. Opoku-Agyemang who was the Education Minister at the time.
The three were subsequently pardoned by then-President John Mahama after serving only a month in jail.
Mr. Mahama exercised his constitutional prerogative of mercy following petitions presented to him mostly by members of his government and the NDC.
Critics viewed the support of the convicts who attacked the judiciary as a low point of the Mahama administration and some of its members, especially the women members.
But speaking on Cape Coast-based Live FM in the Central Region, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang maintained that the Mahama administration acted within the remit of the law.
“The case was not tampered with. The court process was allowed to continue to its conclusion. For those of us who listened to the comments, we told them their utterances were wrong so they should go and apologise. We made them apologise.”
“In the judicial process, there is something called a pardon or clemency. Even in recent times, they have pardoned some people,” she added.
Mr. Mahama, the current NDC flagbearer, in 2016, also insisted that he upheld the law in his handling of the case.
