DEMAND FOR RETRACTION AND APOLOGY – FALSE STATEMENT ALLEGING THREAT OF HARM AND DEATH OF JUDGES ATTRIBUTED TO AKO GUNN

One of the persons alleged to have threatened the lives of Supreme Court judges during a political programme on Montie FM, Ako Gunn, has refuted the allegations saying he wasn’t on the programme when the threat was issued.

In statement signed by his lawyer, Chris Ackumey,copied to GhanaPoliticsOnline.Com and addressed to the Ghana Bar Association (GBA), he demanded an apology from the GBA, which released a statement condemning Mr. Gunn and another panelist, Alistair Nelson, for the alleged threats.

The two were reported to have threatened to “finish” the Supreme Court judges if they made any judgment against the Electoral Commission in the ongoing court case challenging the validity of the voters’ register.

in the statement, Mr. Ackumey said, “my client vehemently denies being on the said programme on the 29th of June, 2016 as a panelist on Montie FM as alleged and to that extent could not have uttered the alleged death threats on the Judges attributed to him.”

The statement further demanded a retraction be made as soon as possible “exonerating him [Ako Gunn] from his involvement on the issuance of the death threats.”

Mr. Ackumey contended that, Mr. Gunn has been caused “pain, sufferings, anguish and humiliation” and his life put “in peril from extremists” following the false accusation and invitation to the BNI.

“My client hereby demands an unqualified apology from you for the trauma caused him and the invitation of hate to his person due to your press release,” the statement directed at the GBA stated.

The statement comes barely hours after the judges of the Supreme Court cited the two for contempt over the alleged comments.

Below the full statement.

5TH JULY, 2016

TO THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
GHANA BAR ASSOCIATION (G.B.A)
ACCRA

ATTENTION: MR. BENSON NUTSUKPUI (PRESIDENT)

Dear Sir,

DEMAND FOR RETRACTION AND APOLOGY – RE: FALSE STATEMENT ALLEGING THREAT OF HARM AND DEATH OF JUDGES ATTRIBUTED TO AKO GUNN

I act on behalf of Mr. Ako Gunn, a law abiding citizen of the Republic of Ghana and on his instructions do write as follows:

He intimated that you published and circulated a press release dated 1st July, 2016 titled “Ghana Bar Association’s Statement On Threat To Judges Made On Muntie 100.1 F.M On 29th June, 2016” in which you accused the said Ako Gunn of uttering death threats to Judges of the Supreme Court on a radio programme dubbed Pampaso which was aired by Muntie F. M with another panelist on the programme by name Alistair Nelson and hosted by one Mugabe.

My client says that the said press release was aired on most radio and T. V Stations in Ghana and outside since then and also presently running nationwide drawing a lot of attacks and condemnations sometimes to the extent of threat of physical harm on him.

It is a fact that your press release has been placed on the website – Ghanaweb.com and on the Internet causing the said press release to go viral internationally.

 
My client vehemently denies been on the said programme on the 29th of June, 2016 as a panelist on Muntie F. M as alleged and to that extent could not have uttered the alleged death threats on the Judges attributed to him.

Your press release without doubt has brought pain, sufferings, anguish and humiliation to my client and has distressed him emotionally and psychologically ever since.

It has also earned him an undeserved invitation from the BNI on the Sunday morning of 3rd July, 2016 where he was subjected to questioning over the press release.

Mr. Ako Gunn is a law abiding citizen, very pacific in character and who is respected by all and sundry due to his exceptional good character which you have now ruined locally and internationally.

Additionally, your press release has put his life in peril from extremists who attack him on the airwaves with insults and threats of harm and death.

Consequently, my client hereby requests that you must cause a retraction to be made as soon as possible exonerating him from his involvement on the issuance of the death threats.

Additionally, my client hereby demands an unqualified apology from you for the trauma caused him and the invitation of hate to his person due to your press release.

Finally my client would again reiterate that he issued no such death threats and deserves the retraction and apology accordingly.

Sincerely,

CHRIS A-ACKUMMEY

CC
1) THE CHIEF JUSTICE – SUPREME COURT
2) THE CHIEF OF STAFF – FLAGSTAFF HOUSE
3) I.G.P. – GHANA POLICE SERVICE
4) DIRECTOR – BNI
5) ALL RADIO AND T.V STATIONS
6) ALL EDITORS OF NATIONAL DAILIES
7) MR. AKO GUNN
8) MUGABE – MUNTIE F.M
9) ALISTAIR NELSON – ACCRA