By Pascaline Adadevoh
…oh death, where is your sting? O death, where is your victory? I have maintained that ‘writing’ was/is a difficult task and anyone who had the skill of writing effortlessly needed to be respected.
Right there in this picture is former Head of GBC Radio News, Justice Mingle, an adept, proficient and skilled Journalist at that. You will love to listen to his News Commentaries.
Having worked in the Radio newsroom for years now, there are few people I will ‘die’ literally to have them edit my scripts any day, anytime. I can readily mention Roland Affail Monney, Joyce Anim Ayeko, Teye Kitcher, and Justice Mingle, to mention but a few who can edit your news reports almost flawlessly, and you will be awed if they were on location with you. They are simply gifted. Justice Mingle devoted most of his years to sacrificing for this profession he loved with his blood.
At night, he was at work; at dawn, you will still find him there, all in the interest of the job. Sometimes to the detriment of his own health. Justice had the ‘nose’ for news, oh yes!! and days when the ‘front was dry’ Justice came in handy. As Editor of Metro Desk years back, the Metro news at midday was a must listen to, comparable to the Joy midday news almost everyone clamours to listen to now. Justice loved the job!
The other side of Justice was his sense of humour lol. He loved to tease and had a special name for everyone. He started calling me ‘Queen’ immediately he got to know my husband had ‘King’ as part of his name hahaha! Justice was impossible!!! How he came about that, I don’t know…when you teased him back, he would retort in Ga ‘ha mi gb3 ye dz3’ or ‘3sabo k3 ony33 Atswei’.
I always told him he was a pampered child because Justice was petty and could take you on for weeks if you stepped on his toes lol but that was the man Justice Mingle. He loved his food too, woe betide any team that had a party without inviting JM.
The last time I spoke to him, he was hale and hearty and he cautioned me that it shouldn’t be a nine-day wonder and that I should keep checking up on him.
Well, I failed because, as a human, I didn’t see this day coming soon. After he had gone on retirement barely four years ago, I will always mention to colleagues during my dawn shifts that I miss Justice. Mr Mingle had a horrible voice, but he loved music. There isn’t any hip-life song Justice could not sing .
I am so sure King Paluta was his latest favourite. In spite of him being at work 24/7, Justice still made time for church service and played his role as Sunday School teacher till the very end. Let me end this here. Rest well, Justice! Rest well, Mr Mingle!! Rest well, Ataa Mingle!!! You will forever be remembered when the true gems of Journalism are mentioned.