The “entire saga” of the Montie Three reflected the extent to which radio had been “trivialised” and the depths to which journalistic standards had fallen in the country, renowned broadcaster Kwami Sefa Kayi has said.
For him, the decision to grant some persons free access to “the power of the media” to make unsavoury remarks against justices, for which they were subsequently incarcerated, was “almost depressing” and should not be allowed to happen again.
The Montie Three, as the trio – Salifu Maase, Godwin Ako Gunn, and Alistair Taro Nelson – were known, were convicted for contempt by the Supreme Court for insulting and threatening some justices of Ghana’s apex court on June 29, 2016 on Pampaso, a political talk show on Montie FM. They were each handed a four-month jail term in addition to a GHS 10,000 fine. However, following appeals by pro-government officials and groups, including the signing of a petition book by ministers of state among others, President John Mahama, invoking his powers under Article 72 of the constitution, granted the three remission after almost a month in prison.
But on the last edition of Multi TV’s Newsfile for 2016 on Saturday December 24, Mr Kayi, who is also host of Kokrokoo on Peace FM, said the whole development was an “embarrassment” for all Ghanaians and was “easily” his “lowest” point for the year.
“My lowest point was the entire saga of the Montie 3. It’s a lesson to all of us in how not to do some things,” he told show host Samson Lardy Anyenini, saying the circumstances surrounding the matter and how it all ended left him with a “sunken feeling”.
“Never again should we – those of us on radio, television, those of us in the media – use the power of the media to so denigrate, malign and insult people to the extent that a whole Supreme Court had to come in…and then the theatre that happened afterwards that culminated in a sitting president remitting their sentence… I just hope it never happens again.”
He continued: “…That’s what really gave me the lowest low... I think it was an embarrassing moment for all of us – journalists, politicians, ordinary, everyday Ghanaians, judges. It’s a blot on our conscience, I think, a very big blot."
Source: classfmonline.com
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EVEN AKUA DONKOR WHO IS NOT RELEVANT GOT 2 4 BY 4'S AND A MANSION FROM FORD MAHAMA,WOABODAM.
It is only a ***barred word*** who will find nothing wrong with the release of those 3 bofoons. Mahama stooped so low listening to the ***barred word*** they call Council of elders. They were thinking of the votes intead of justice. I am so so happy that Ghanaians have shown all the incompetent brats the exit come Jan. 7. Ghana needs better people with integrity, discipline, wisdom & sound judgement to take us to the promise land.
Master master master @kayi go for your share from Nana Addo and stop pretending to be truthful. We all head Nana Addo single you out congratulating you for his victory. So spare us with your hypocritical advice. You think you are smart. Master we are smarter than you
AND IT PAINS ME A LOT THAT MY PAL,A CLOSE ASSOCIATE AND COLLEAGUE FROM ASANTE-MAMPONG WHERE WE STRUGGLED TOGETHER, HAVE THE GUTS AND IMPUDENCE TO MALIGN A POLITICAL STATESMAN UNCOMPARE AT THE MOMENT IN GHANA, NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFFO ADDO, WHO H.E. JOHN MAHAMA HIMSELF KNEW, HAD IT NOT HIS BEING ELLECTED TO THE POSITION OF PRESIDENCY, CANNOT STAND BEFORE HIM IN ANY SPHERE COMPARABLE POLITICALLY OR PROFFESIONALLY, AND IN A MOST UNSAVORY TERMS HE SITS ON HIS AHUTOR FM WITH A WARP AND FIENDISHLY INDOCTRINATED MIND,RAW DISPLAY OF IGNORANCE OF OUR POLITICAL HISTORY, HEROES AND PLAYERS IN A MOST ABSURD WAY. NOW THAT THE TABLE HAS TURNED AND EGO SEVERELY BRUISED, HOW IS HE GOING TO SALVAGE THE LITTLE JOURNALISTIC VIRTUE LEFT? HE IS JOINED BY A RIFF -RAFF IGNORAMUS AND UNEMPLOYED NDC OPPORTUNIST WHO CLAIM HE EDUCATED AT KNUST BY NAME ALOOKE TO INFLICT THEIR LEVEL OF IGNORANCE ON GHANAIAN CITIZENRY. IN REALITY, BOTH HATCHET YOUNG MEN ARE NOT EVEN WORTH TO CARRY OR CLEAN NANA ADDO DANKWA AKUFFO ADDO'S SHOES. THIS IS A FREE ADVICE ONCE AGAIN EVENTHOUGH HE HAS FAILED TO TAKE MANY FROM A FRIEND AND BROTHER,...IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE YOU ARE GOING, AT LEAST YOU SHOULD KNOW WHERE YOU ARE COMING FROM ....THE WAY YOU DESPISE AND VILIFY THE ELDERLY IN THE NAME OF POLITICS AND WHAT YOU GAIN FROM A REGIME WILL MAKE OR UNMAKE YOUR FUTURE. SO NOT TO BE HAUNTED IN FUTURE, TRY AND DO THE RIGHT THING. DENOUNCE ALL THE VIAL INSULTS AND WICKED MALICIOUS INDISCRESIONS AND PRAY FOR FORGIVENESS. YOU CAN GO BACK TO ASANTE-MAMPONG AND SEEK RESPECTABLE AND INFLUENCIAL PERSONS TO LEED YOU TO THE ROAD OF REPENT AND RECONSCILIATION. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR.
The rate of illeteracy in Ghana is falling and is corresponding with the falling votes of NDC. The remaining few of them are attacking Kwame for 0his honesty.This party will not survive if 80% of Ghanaians are well educated.That party strives on ignorance of people.
" it wasnt the best" . Thats quite juicy , infact it was the worst decision that any unbiased , moral , and intelligent president could have ever made. He made his point clear. And Ghanaians punished him and his crew mercilessly. He could have avoided the whole saga by advicing his fellow ndc big men to stop the whole petition thing before it gets to him. But it looked more likely that he wanted things that way. And u know what really pissed me off? He sed during the interview that "noone benefits from them being in prison" . What arrogance and impunity ! This guy woukd have plunged us into darkness . I thank Ghana for rejecting him
What a country.So we still have people who dont see the st-u-pi-di-ty in the decision to release those montie3.This country has a loong way to go
So you guys have not relishe why NDC under JDM is not attractive to critical thinkers of Ghanaians today because of Montie'3,Standdogbie etc.Pls learn respect Ghanaians NDC under JDM today.
What is wrong with Kwame? The Montie issue is purely political. We know where you belongs Kwame. We are not kids every eye is watching you. Think about it.
What is so wrong about Kwame Sefa Kayis submission. The man is right. Disrespectful and arrogant fellowers of NDC. The release of the montie 3 wasnt the best decision.