Tsatsu has taken the shine out of NDC's court victory - Adu-Asare

A former MP for Adenta says controversial comments by lead lawyer for NDC, Tsatsu Tsikata, accusing a Supreme Court judge of political bias has "taken the shine off" a landmark victory that the NDC secured after the Supreme Court threw out a petition filed by their political opponent, NPP.

Speaking on Adom TV's Badwam, Kojo Adu-Asare says following the Supreme Court declaration of President John Mahama as the legitimate winner of the 2012 presidential polls, one would expect that the media would be replete with stories about this crucial reaffirmation.

But instead, he notes, the media has been forced to focus on a controversial claim by Tsatsu Tsikata that Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah's judgment was clouded by his political allegiance to the New Patriotic Party (NPP).

Mr. Tsikata who was counsel for the NDC during the eight-months court drama, said Justice Anin Yeboah, one of the nine judges, consistently took an opposing stance against the National Democratic Congress (NDC)’s arguments and position, as far as the case was concerned, from the onset.

His allegation set off a barrage of criticism from several lawyers, political opponents, statesmen and civil society groups such as the National Peace Council, who have all asked the renowned lawyer to retract his comments deemed contemptuous, and apologise to the Supreme Court judge. Tsatsu Tsikata has refused.

Stating his stance on the issue, Adu-Asare said he was not enthused by Tsatsu Tsikata's remarks because it has dominated discussions so much that it has eventually dampened any mood for celebrating the crucial victory.

"I feel by now the media should be filled with issues [such as] Supreme Court affirms President Mahama, but from Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday [we] have been discussing Tsatsu", he said.

He also says, it is not fair for NPP communicators to condemn Tsatsu while leaving a similarly disparaging comment made by one of their own- Gabby Otchere-Darko.

He said developmental issues that have relegated to the background because of the eight-months election petition hearing ought to be brought back into public debate.