Tsatsu cannot be prosecuted over drill ship scandal

Managing Editor of the Gye Nyame Concord, Alfred Ogbamey believes the attempt to blame former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Tsatsu Tsikata, for the brouhaha over the sale of a drill ship is just an attempt at “equalization” by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Tsatsu Tsikata’s name has become embroiled in the sale of the controversial GNPC drill ship for $24m to defray a $19.5m judgment debt owed to French bank, Societe Generale.

The former GNPC boss has however denied those allegations and gone further to state the then government did not do enough due diligence before the sale.

Contributing to a panel discussion on Peace FM’s “Kokrokoo”, Alfred Ogbamey said “the accusation being leveled against Tsatsu Tsikata is diversionary. It is an attempt at equalization and nothing more”.

According to him, “before 2001, Chronicle, Crusading Guide (all newspapers) and others have made Tsatsu and his activities at the GNPC a topic, but Tsatsu was jailed for the decisions he took (at GNPC) and so he has already been punished”.

He was of the opinion that even if the former GNPC boss is found culpable, he cannot be jailed again over the same issue (sale of Drill ship).

“I have already said that though I admire Tsatsu for his legal prowess, I had a problem with Tsatsu over his handling of GNPC, but he has already been punished and he cannot be punished again over the same issue. I don’t belong to the school of thought that Tsatsu is to be blamed for the GNPC saga. He’s already been punished and he cannot be prosecuted for anything; there are other issues on the board; let’s look at it,” he said.