Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey and Pastor Mensa Otabil
It has emerged that the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Communications Team members who threatened to kill the judges promised to kill some pastors as well.
They said the pastors had been openly supporting the bid of the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to become president and therefore when the Supreme Court finally ‘plunges’ the country into chaos through the usurpation of the powers of the Electoral Commission (EC) ahead of the November elections, the pastors would have their share of physical attacks.
They specifically mentioned Pastor Mensa Otabil, General Overseer of the International Central Gospel Church; Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Martey, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana and Christian Council General Secretary, Rev Dr. Kwabena Opuni Frempong, as their targets.
These comments were specifically uttered by Alistair Nelson on a pro-NDC radio station – Montie FM – which is a sister station to Radio Gold at Latebiokoshie, Accra – during a political talk show programme called ‘Pampaso’ hosted by Salifu Maase, popularly called Mugabe.
On the same programme, the justices of the Supreme Court were threatened with death.
Meanwhile, the Bureau of National Investigation (BNI) has virtually cleared the NDC activists of any criminal intention.
According to the BNI, “Alistair Tairo Nelson, 41 and Godwin Ako Gunn, 39, are incapable of harming the judges.”
The security agency, in a statement issued on Thursday, disclosed that “further checks by the BNI have, however, established that the suspects were incapable of carrying out their pronouncements but did so in a show of needless bravado.”
Alistair Nelson, Godwin Ako Gunn and Oti Bless, are all NDC activists and regular panelists on Montie FM – which is noted for vitriolic attacks on opponents of the ruling NDC, as well as the use of intemperate language heavily aided by the host, Mugabe who claims that he was not afraid of jail.
They said the Supreme Court judges had complained that there was too much tension in the country and so they (panelists) accused the judges of stoking the tension with their decisions, with Mugabe asking, “Where is the pressure coming from?”
Alistair Nelson then said, “And now you hear, Peace Council, Bishop Conference, Muslim Council. They have turned the thing into politics. And some have come out openly to support Nana Addo.
“Ei! You people. With all that’s going on. Look at Otabil, E.A. Martey,” and Mugabe fired and Opuni-Frempong.”
“Do they think that they can run?” Alistair quizzed.
Alistair threatened again, “Have you climbed a hill before? When you get up you do exercises in your rooms. You have gone to buy machines (treadmill). You have gone beyond 60 and 65 years, and you are sitting on machines and so you think you have become strong in the room. When the war happens we will see where you will pass.
“Ask the Liberians, Sierra Leone, Burundi. So we the youth have to rise up and to prevent the election of a dictator, a looming dictator that wants to destroy our society. That’s what they want to do.
“With all the leaders in Ghana, I have begged the head of the CID, be they political leaders, church leaders, business leaders in this country, we should seize everyone’s passport and place them at the Bank of Ghana.
Mugabe then fired, “Take Georgina Wood’s passport!”
Alistair retorted “Take the passport of all the judges. Period! Thank you!”
By William Yaw Owusu