The family of one of the three persons imprisoned for making contemptuous comments against judges has described the entire Montie 3 episode as an ‘advert’ that has shot them into the limelight.

According to the family of Alistair Nelson, though the jailing of their son was a nightmare, it was also a development and something that has exposed him to the world.

“It is a development, because we saw it as an advert that exposed him to the world,” Gifty Sheifi Nelson, elder sister of Alistair revealed to 3FM’s Esther Mensah Tuesday morning.

Responding to the announcement of a remission of sentence for the three persons, Ms Sheifi Nelson rejected assertions that the incident has negatively affected the name of the family or that of Alistair. Accra-based radio show host Salifu Maase, and his two panellists, Alistair Nelson and Ako Gunn were sentenced to four months in prison on July 26 after the Supreme Court found them guilty of contempt of court for making threatening statements against the justices of the court.

But exactly a month into their sentence, President Mahama on Monday announced a remission of the remaining three-month jail term in line with his executive powers under Article 72 of the 1992 Constitution following a petition submitted to him.

The president based his decision on compassionate grounds, noting the three “continue to express deep remorse and regret for the unacceptable statements they made against the Judiciary”.

The pardon has since Monday evening sparked public criticism and condemnation of the President’s action, which some peopel argue could have negative consequence on the integrity and authority of Ghana’s judiciary. For the family of Alistair however, it has been all praise for President Mahama and Ghanaians who signed and championed the petition that has resulted in the decision to free the three this Friday.

Tough but God’s favour prevailed

The family home of Alistair at Mataheko in Accra turned into party grounds Monday night when news of the pardon got to the family. It sparked jubilation and praise for God for His intervention in the matter. “What happened was tough for us as a family but we looked up to God and He has done it for us.

We thank God,” Ms Nelson told our reporter. She reported that the wife of Alistair and some family members went to Church last night to thank God for touching on the heart of President Mahama to grant the release of Alistair who is the last of a family of 14. “When he [Alistair] comes out, he will preach the Word to glorify the name of God,” Ms Sheifi Nelson told 3FM, describing the pardon as “favour of God; the mercy of God and the Grace of God”. “We thank God and those who helped in getting their release. God bless them all,” she added.

Nightmares over

She said the family has no grudge against anyone who kicked against their release, saying “We won’t do anything to them; we leave them to God. We only thank God that we have got our brother back”. “…We have not slept. All this while that he’s been in prison, we have not slept,” she revealed, but said they can now celebrate his release, adding wherever they are invited to celebrate, they will show up.

Mahama assured second term

Alistair’s family has assured President Mahama of a guaranteed second term for the kind gesture done them. “We thank him; we bless him in the name of God. We promise him that he will get a second term [at the presidency] so he should not worry at all,” Ms Sheifi Nelson assured the President. She added: “When he wakes up, he should just thank God and not greet anyone. God has done it”.