Accra, July 3, 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 Fran=E7aise de D=E9veloppement (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. 03 July 08
