Unconfirmed reports reaching DAILY GUIDE indicate that James Mensah, acting registrar of the Supreme Court, has been removed from office.
Although reasons for the supposed removal were sketchy as at press time yesterday, it was being rumoured that his removal might not be unconnected to his alleged actions leading to the adjournment of the contempt of court proceeding against the three Montie FM panelists who allegedly threatened to kill supreme and high court judges.
According to a source, James reportedly created the impression to the Chief Justice, Georgina Theodora Wood, that the contemnors – Salifu Maase aka Mugabe host of “Pampaso,” a political programme on Montie FM; Godwin Ako Gunn and Alistair Tairo Nelson – had been served the summons to appear before the Supreme Court.
It said Mr James Mensah, who was only working in an acting capacity as registrar of the apex court, had been reassigned to the Court of Appeal.
Stories
In a well choreographed manner, the three paddies in the dock, who looked exceptionally humble before the judges after their initial display of bravado, claimed that they were short-served with the summons to appear before the court.
In the case of Mugabe, he claimed that he was served the summons in the instant case only on Monday in court.
He said, he picked his summons at the registry of the court, stressing that he was not served until Monday but leant that he had been ordered to appear before the SC on radio and in the newspapers.
Alistair
According to Alistair, he was served the summons by a bailiff who asked his name and threw the documents at him – a style of service Justice Sophia Akuffo, head of the five-member panel of judges, said was sometimes done.
Ako Gunn also said he was served with the summons at the court but heard about the order to appear before the SC on radio and in the newspapers.
The court, adjourning the case, said the court registrar had corroborated the claims of the three.
Justice Akuffo said the court would not tolerate any excuses because the public had been on tenterhooks due to its interest in the case.
Denial
When contacted via telephone, Ms. Grace Tagoe, Communications Director of the Judicial Service, stated that the story about the removal of James was untrue.
“Not true, he has not been reassigned; all I know is that I am working on his travel documents…,” she disclosed.
Ms. Tagoe added, “That is what I know; he has not been removed; he has not been reassigned.”
She said she would not know if James had been reprimanded for whatever reason.
By Jeffrey De-Graft Johnson