Tsatsu will apologise for 'shut-up' statement if... - Karbo

Former National Youth Organizer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Anthony Abayifaa Karbo has said that Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata will apologise and retract his ‘shut up’ outburst if given the opportunity.

According to him, the use of those words has put the counsel of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) in a bad light, hence ‘I believe if he is given the chance he will apologise and retract.

Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, on Monday, May 6, 2013 asked the lead Counsel for the Petitioners in the case, Mr. Philip Addison to “shut up” when he (Addison) raised an objection during his (Tsikata) cross examination of the key witness, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.

Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on Tuesday, Karbo described the ‘outburst’ by Mr. Tsikata as shocking and unacceptable because a lot of people hold him (Tsatsu) in such a high esteem.

“People are shocked that Tsatsu could use that statement because he told other counsels to observe some civility a few weeks back and suddenly he loses it. It almost created the impression that Tsatsu is frustrated with the kind of witness in the witness box and the whole hype about Tsatsu and how he was going to destroy the case of the NPP; he’s lost it…” he stated.

Karbo also expressed dissatisfaction at how the Judges also glossed over the issue and asked the two lawyers to approach the bench later on the matter.

According to Karbo, even though the judges are doing well, there is the need for them to stamp their authority firmly and ensure that the right language is used in court, especially considering the fact that the proceedings are being watched internationally.

“…somebody say shut-up in court and the judges ignore it...we must look at the bigger issues of judges having to stamp their authority where they have to. The exclamation didn’t come quite well, and the justices only said let’s go by the court processes and let’s move on; brushing it aside,” he added.