REPORTS that some supporters of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) openly assaulted journalists who had gone to the Supreme Court to cover the case involving embattled host of “Pampaso,” a political talk show on Montie FM in Accra, Salifu Maase aka Mugabe, and two other panelists who had threatened the lives of judges is disquieting.
THE incident, we understand, happened last Tuesday when Salifu Maase and his two panelists- Godwin Ako Gunn, 39, and Alistair Tairo Nelson, 41, appeared before the Supreme Court to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for contempt of court, following their horrendous utterances against judges in this country.
THE action by the NDC faithful(s) who massed up at the apex court ostensibly to give moral support to their communicators sends a very bad signal, especially when journalists who were doing their job were attacked. We thus take the chance to condemn the action of the NDC members who thronged the Supreme Court.
IN the first place it was wrong for the over 300 NDC supporters to besiege the Supreme Court. This is because we have all condemned the utterances of the three persons.
THE question we want to ask is: what were they trying to achieve by massing up at the place? Was it the case that their presence at the court premises would intimidate the judges not to try the case?
WE believe the above and many nagging questions are engraved on the lips of many well-meaning citizens of this country. One thing that we must all understand is the fact that we are being governed by the rule of law. And we must respect the law!
THEREFORE, we should not be seen as the same people trying to stand in the way of the law when we know the law must take its full course. In the Montie FM case we cannot fathom why some people would want to prevent the law from dealing with persons who commit criminal offences?
WHILE condemning what happened at the apex court on Tuesday, we call on the law enforcers to ensure that the apex court is well guarded to prevent, especially journalists, from being harmed. We equally believe that the trial of the case will compel those who speak particularly on political talk shows to be extremely mindful of what they churn out on radio.
<<Print>>