Free pastor jailed for COVID-19 breaches – Mahama

Former President and leader of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr John Dramani Mahama, has called on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to grant clemency to a pastor and his two followers jailed for four years for flouting the ban on public gatherings.
Mr Mahama says the four-year prison sentence handed down to the pastor, Apostle Sampson Agakpe and two others is draconian and an act of selective justice.
“We must all abide by the law, that is true, but we should not engage in selective justice, where you apply the law heavily on church workers who flout the law. Yet, during primaries, people were seen flouting the law with impunity and nothing happened to them”, he said.
The NDC flagbearer, who was speaking during an interaction with Christian leaders in the Northern regional capital Tamale, during his recent visit, observed that the imposition of the COVID-19 restrictions was necessary to help fight the surge in infections and keep the country safe.
Some of the decisions and outcomes arising out of the imposition of the restrictions, he noted, has not been pleasant.
“We are all equal before the law. It should not be possible for political parties to flout a law and get away with it, yet when a church flouts the law, the punishment is heavy and draconian. We have our Christian colleagues, a pastor and some church workers languishing in jail. They were sentenced to jail for four years. That is a very draconian punishment”, Mr. Mahama said.
Apostle Sampson Agakpe, founder of the Church of Pure Christ in the Volta Region, was arrested, charged and jailed for four years together with his Assistant Pastor, Maxwell Dzogoedzikpe and the church secretary, Samuel Agakpe.
Former President Mahama also spoke about the poor coronavirus education and awareness among the citizenry, recounting an incident in Damango.
“In Damango, they ambushed me on the road, a huge crowd of people and nobody was social distancing, and many were not wearing masks. When I drew their attention to the protocols, one of them shouted back that Corona will not infect them.”
Source: classfmonline.com
Trending News
NDA boss calls for decentralised development framework to drive progress in Northern Ghana
08:59Nearly 30.7% of Ghana’s population living in slums
14:13Eric Opoku urges AU-EU to prioritise innovation for food security at Ministerial Conference in Rome
11:00King Mswati III calls for harmonised traditional and modern governance during visit to Kumasi
17:32President Mahama honours senior citizens at Republic Day luncheon
08:46Deputy Defence Minister champions discipline and Patriotism at 2025 National Cadet Music and Drill competition
11:40Weak laws fuel corruption in Ghana – Law Professor reveals
10:49Suspended CJ rejects calls for her resignation, vows to fight for her full entilements
17:17Defence Minister stands in for President Mahama at 65th Republic Day parade honouring National Cadet Corps
08:28Togo’s political crisis sparks regional security concerns – Expert warns of growing unrest
11:12