The deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Koku Anyidoho has called on the party’s supporters to remain resolute in the wake of the jailing of a presenter of a pro-NDC station Montie FM.

Salifu Maase popularly known as ‘Mugabe’ was slapped with a four-month jail term with two others after being convicted in a contempt case. Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn all belonging to the ruling NDC threatened on live radio that they will kill the judges of the Supreme Court sitting on the voters’ register case.

The highest court of Ghana served the trio with a four-month jail term plus a fine of Ghc10,000 each or in default another month in jail.

Speaking on the issue, Anyidoho, who described himself as a “personal friend of Mugabe” said his “spirit is not broken.”

“I know Mugabe at close range. There is no party position. I encourage all NDC supporters that let not our spirit be dampened. We are men and will go through trials and tribulations,” Anyidoho told Bola Ray on Starr Chat, Wednesday.

The Montie case

Owners of the station were all found guilty of contempt and have been fined GHc30, 000 to be paid to the court by close of day Thursday or face a jail term of one month.

Nelson, Ako Gunn and Maase were immediately whisked into a Police van and taken away to the prison where they would serve their sentence.

The accused were found guilty for scandalizing the court, defying and lowering the authority of the court and bringing it into disrepute by the court presided over by Justice Sophia Akuffo.

Nelson apologised to the apex court for his utterances claiming he was under the influence of a strange disease known in the local parlance as “kpokpogbligbli.”

He promised never to make such comments again.

‘Mugabe’ also pleaded for forgiveness because he has been a journalist of good repute for 15 years.

Their lawyers pleaded with the court that, they are first time offenders and the court should have mercy on them but the presiding judge stated that the media and all radio panelists must learn valuable lessons from today's ruling and stop unnecessary attacks on the courts and its judges.

Background

Alistair Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn, who were panelists on ‘Pampaso’, a political programme on Montie FM in Accra on June 29, warned judges of Ghana’s highest court to be wary of their conduct in the case involving the Electoral Commission and Mr Abu Ramadan if they did not want to suffer the fate of the three members of the bench who were shot to death and burnt on June 30, 1982 in the era of the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC).

The Supreme Court had to adjourn the case to July 18 after the contemnors argued that they were not served with the writ until the morning of the hearing day, a position which was corroborated by the court registrar.