Professor Kpessa-Whyte, a lecturer at the University of Ghana, was cautioned and discharged after the Supreme Court summoned him for contempt.
The opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) member was found guilty of contempt.
He had initially pleaded not guilty, then guilty with an explanation, before finally pleading guilty.
The court then cautioned and discharged him on his conviction based on his own guilty plea and after the panel deliberated on what appropriate sanction to impose on him.
In reading the court’s decision in the contempt charges, Justice Mariama Owusu stated that, while the bench finds his comment concerning, the convict’s apology and actions contributed to the decision.
Prof. Kpessah-Whyte was summoned before the court after he had tweeted and described the Supreme Court as a stupid court.
He later apologised and clarified that his tweet was not about Ghana’s apex court.
The contemnor, led by Justice Srem-Sai and Godwin Tamakloe, pleaded with the court to temper Justice with mercy because he had already apologised.
“We pray for the mitigation of sentence. My lord, immediately the matter was brought to his attention, he did issue a clear, unreserved apology which we have accordingly brought to the court’s registry, addressed to the acting Chief Justice.
“He has taken steps to have the apology published on the front page of the Ghanaian Times, an apology to the court.
“It is our humble prayer, in all humility, we plead for mercy. We are also undertaking that such a sad and regrettable occurrence will not ever again. We commit to defending the integrity of this honourable Court,” Dr Sai stated.
The case was heard by Justices Mariama Owusu, Lovelace Johnson, Prof Henrietta Mensa-Bonsu, Samuel Asiedu, and George Koomson.
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
