Supreme Court dismisses Tsatsu's certiorari application

Accra, Oct. 16, GNA - The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed an application for certiorari brought before it by Tsatsu Tsikata, former Chief Executive of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC). Ms Justice Sophia Akuffo who chaired the five-member panel, said the application which sought to quash the decision of the Fast Track Court on June 18, was without any merit.

Other members of the panel were, Mr Justice Julius Ansah, Mrs Justice Rose Owusu, Mr Justice Jones Dotse and Mr Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie.

The Court further struck out another application for arrest of judgment, filed by Tsatsu and deferred reasons for its decision to Friday, October 24.

A certiorari application is normally filed at a superior court praying it to quash an earlier decision of a lower court. That is why Tsatsu filed the application at the Supreme Court asking it to set aside the decision of the Fast Track Court that sentenced him to five years imprisonment in June, this year.

On June 18, Mrs Justice Henrietta Abban, an Appeal Court Judge, sitting as an additional High Court Judge, convicted Tsatsu on charges of wilfully causing financial loss to the State and sentenced him to five years' imprisonment.

Not satisfied with the court's decision, Tsatsu filed the certiorari application, asking the Supreme Court to quash it. Tsatsu represented himself, while Mrs Gertrude Aikins, Acting Director of Public Prosecutions, appeared for the Republic. Among Tsatsu's sympathizers in court were, Mr John Dramani Mahama, Running Mate of Professor John Evans Atta-Mills, National Democratic Congress Flag bearer, Captain Kojo Tsikata (rtd), former National Security Adviser, Mr Eddie Annan, and Squadron Leader Clend Sowu, both leading members of NDC.