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Members of Socialist Forum of Ghana
organize solidarity vigil for Tsikata
Accra, July 3, Ghanadot/GNA - Mr
Kyeretwie Opoku, a leading member of Socialist Forum of
Ghana (SFG) on Wednesday said Government criminalized Tsatsu
Tsikata former Chief Executive of Ghana National Petroleum
Corporation (GNPC) to devalue his achievement and justified
its mis-management of national affairs.
He said prosecuting Tsikata provided the diversion that was
needed to strip and distribute GNPC’s portfolio of strategic
investments among NPP functionaries.
“For the New Patriotic Party (NPP), GNPC’s success as a
public corporation was ideologically and politically
unacceptable,” he said.
Mr Opoku was speaking at a solidarity vigil organized by
”Free Tsatsu Campaign Group” in Accra.
He noted that the country on the verge of significant oil
production was testimony to the sacrifices that GNPC staff
made under Tsikata’s leadership and vision.
“The investments for which Tsikata was being vilified by the
NPP were simply good faith efforts at linking the emerging
oil sector with other strategic sectors and strengthening
national control over Ghana’s economy and destiny. The
records show that in every major decision that management of
GNPC took, it sought to optimize the interest of Ghana,” Mr
Opoku said.
He noted that management of GNPC assessed its worth by its
long term contribution to socio-economic development and the
integration and self reliance of the Ghanaian economy under
national control.
“Tsikata’s leadership was the most significant and
successful experiment in public sector commercial
intervention since the era of Ghana’s First President
Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. GNPC did not measure its success
simply in profit and loss or in the cash value of its
assets,” he said.
Mr Opoku noted that although the Judiciary was not a divine
institution, its reputation would depend on its performance
in upholding truth and justice.
He said Tsikata’s ordeal was a high profile confirmation of
the overwhelming public perception that the Judiciary was
corrupt following the Afro barometer report published by the
Centre for Democratic Development (CDD) which indicated that
79 per cent of Ghanaians believed that the Judiciary was
corrupt.
Mr Opoku described the trial
proceedings as grossly unfair and a disgrace to the
Judiciary as well as the legal profession.
“The Judge’s insistence on proceeding to hear his
application when he was not represented by counsel and could
not give a short notice to arrange for an alternative
counsel amounted to cynical judicial ambush. The Judge
demonstrated cynicism and ultimate disregard for judicial
oath by writing a judgement before Tsikata concluded his
defence and before the Supreme Court had ruled on a pending
appeal on the immunity of the International Finance
Community(IFC)” he said.
Dr Benjamin Kumbour, Member of Parliament for Lawra Nandom
Constituency noted that persecution of political opponents
had risen to a class and ideological confrontational level.
Mr Fui Tsikata, Senior brother of the jailed former GNPC
Boss said conditions in the prison had strengthened his
brother’s commitment to assist victims of injustice.
Mr Kwesi Pratt Junior, Managing Editor of Insight Newspaper
said it was unfortunate that freedom of expression and
dispensation of justice were being curtailed in the country.
An appeal for funds to support the “Free Tsatsu Campaign”
yielded 548 Ghana cedis and 15 dollars.
An Accra Fast Track High Court on Wednesday, June 18
sentenced Tsikata to five years' imprisonment for wilfully
causing financial loss to the State and misapplying public
property.
The court, presided over by Mrs Justice Henrrieta Abban
found Tsikata guilty on three counts of causing financial
loss to the State and one count of misapplying public
property and jailed him for five years on each count. The
sentences will run concurrently.
Tsikata was charged with three counts of wilfully causing
financial loss of GH˘ 230,000 (2.3 billion old Ghana cedis)
to the State through a loan he, on behalf of GNPC,
guaranteed for Valley Farms, a private company, and another
count of misapplying public property.
He is said to have intentionally misapplied GH˘ 2,000 (20
million old cedis) to acquire shares in Valley Farms.
Valley Farms contracted the loan from Caisse Centrale, now
Agence Française de Développement (ADF), but defaulted in
the payment, compelling GNPC as the guarantors, to pay the
loan in 1996.
He pleaded not guilty and was on a self-recognisance bail.
GNA
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