The National Organiser of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams, has described the jailing of radio host Salifu Maase, aka, ‘Mugabe’, and two radio panellists: Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn, as a dent on Ghana’s political journey since the criminal libel law was repealed some 15 years ago.

The apex court on Wednesday July 27 sentenced ‘Mugabe’, Nelson and Gunn, to a four-month jail term for threatening to kill justices of the court on a radio show called ‘Pampaso’. They were found guilty of contempt.

“This ruling is a dent on our record. Tomorrow [Friday July 29] marks our 15th anniversary of the repeal of the Criminal Libel Law. The ruling yesterday has in a way become another dent in our political journey and democratic dispensation,” Mr Adams said on 12 Live on Class 91.3FM on Thursday July 28.

He stressed that the NDC, as a party, found the ruling “strange” and “if it is intended to stifle free speech, I think that Ghana has gone very far”.

The NDC has said the sentence was “harsh and shocking”. Lawyers for the three, Nana Ato Dadzie and George Loh, have also described the sentence as “harsh and excessive”. Foreign Affairs Minister Hanna Tetteh has also expressed similar sentiments while supporters of the NDC have picketed at the party’s headquarters and have called on President John Mahama to grant the convicts pardon.