[ 2016-07-27 ]

Mr. Ato Ahwoi

Radio Gold, Montie FM shut down in solidarity with Montie 3
Two Accra based radio stations owned by the
Network Broadcasting Company, have temporarily
shut down in solidarity with the three contemnors
who were handed four months jail sentences on
Wednesday morning by the Supreme Court.

Radio Gold (90.5fm) and Montie FM (100.1fm) went
off air around 3:10 pm on Wednesday.

Graphic Online was monitoring the two radio
stations when it noticed that they simultaneously
went off air without any information to
listeners.

Checks from sources at the station however
indicated that they went off air in solidarity
with the trio, who have been jailed four months
each by the Supreme Court.

The directors of the mother company of the two
stations, Network Broadcasting have also been
sentenced to a fine of Ghc30, 000 by the Supreme
Court.

If the directors fail to pay the fine by close of
work on Thursday July 28, 2016, they will be held
liable to a prison term.

The court however did not indicate the prison
term they will have to serve.

Mr. Ato Ahwoi,a director of Network Broadcasting
Company and a former presidential advisor was in
court for the first time on Wednesday and was also
found guilty of criminal contempt. The other
directors were convicted together with the trio,
Salifu Maase alias Mugabe and his two panelists
Alistair Tairo Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn last
week.

Mr. Ahwoi who was making his first appearance in
court on Wednesday, July 27, 2016 since he was
absent at the first two sittings pleaded he was
liable with explanation and was subsequently
convicted and sentenced.

The three convicts, radio presenter Salifu Maase
alias Mugabe and his two panelists Alistair Tairo
Nelson and Godwin Ako Gunn were convicted for
making contemptious statements about the Court.

The two political commentators threatened the
lives of judges of the superior court on
Accra-based radio station, Montie FM. They made
the statements on a programme known as 'Bia Gya'
[Open Fire] and hosted by Mugabe.

The Supreme Court presided over by Ms Justice
Sophia Akufo apart from putting them in prison
also fined the three Ghc10,000 each. If they fail
to pay the fine by close of work on Thursday July
28, 2016, they will each serve an additional
one-month term in prison.

In addition to the Ghc30, 000 fine to be paid by
the owners of the Montie FM, Mr. Harry Zakkour’s
company, Zeze which owns the Montie FM frequency
100.1fm, is also to pay a Ghc30, 000 fine.

If the two companies fail to pay the fine by
close of work on Thursday, July 28, 2016, all
their directors would be held liable to a prison
term.

The court, however, did not indicate the prison
term, the directors would have to serve,

It is not clear when the managers of the two
stations intend to bring back their programmes on
air.

Source - Graphic.com.gh

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