Atuguba’s whip saved Ghana from going down the abyss - Segbefia

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ghana 10 years ago

Victory for NPP!

Victory for NPP!
T DI BOY 10 years ago

THE WILL WHIPP MORE THAN THIS

THE WILL WHIPP MORE THAN THIS
ILLITERATE APONKYI SARPONG 10 years ago

Kuffuor Agyekum can be said to be the worst president of the republic ever as he used Ghana as his personal property.

We havn't forgotten when Kronfour Kuffuot turned Cocaine into Konkontey.

We have still in our memorie ...
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Kuffuor Agyekum can be said to be the worst president of the republic ever as he used Ghana as his personal property.

We havn't forgotten when Kronfour Kuffuot turned Cocaine into Konkontey.

We have still in our memories when K4 the thief made Asantehene the high commissioner of international affairs where Asantehene used the occasion to peddle cocaine.

We haven't forgotten when Kuffuor introduced bigotry and maladroitly removed talented officials from post just because they were not of asante extract.

Have we forgotten Ghana airways, airport lands, selling of our continental shelf to the spaniards?

What about HIPC and begging for alms? Do you run an economy by begging? Thanks to our neighbours such as the Nigerians who relocated their industries to Ghana to boost the economy because of PEACE AND SECURITY not of Kronfuor but of JJR.
insight to the bone 10 years ago

here we go again, another pepeni idiot pratt trying to mislead the Akans and lull us into a comfort zone so we are unprepared . war will definitely come not because of a petition but rather because of the injustices , corrupt ...
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here we go again, another pepeni idiot pratt trying to mislead the Akans and lull us into a comfort zone so we are unprepared . war will definitely come not because of a petition but rather because of the injustices , corruption and mentality of my time has come so let me chop some. all the signs of a prewar climate are now very evident , the army come out in full bravado force to scare the people , the national security calling for unnecessary meetings with political parties , people beginning to hoard food ,rice and canned goods , the list is endless . political parties dont cause wars rather it a time when new leaders are born . this political oligarchy has failed so the time is ripe for grass roots changes and that can only be achieved in war . don't believe the hype and stay vigilant and ready , long live the republic of Akan
Backah Francis 10 years ago

Here's another idiot and senselessly ethnocentric so-called Akan. The worse thing that happens is when some Akans are able to read and write. It's unfortunate that stupid cranks like you are able to access the social media pl ...
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Here's another idiot and senselessly ethnocentric so-called Akan. The worse thing that happens is when some Akans are able to read and write. It's unfortunate that stupid cranks like you are able to access the social media platform. You cannot destroy Ghana. If Akans of of your kind cannot contend with other tribes in Ghana, go found another country in hell. Evil Akans like you cannot drown this nation. In that war kill your relatives first,
Foolish boy!!
insight to the bone 10 years ago

well if its foolish why did you even bother to respond or even read it , the truth is deep down you know that this is the destiny your pepeni and ayigbe compatriots have set for us . today you all tremble in fear of the retri ...
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well if its foolish why did you even bother to respond or even read it , the truth is deep down you know that this is the destiny your pepeni and ayigbe compatriots have set for us . today you all tremble in fear of the retribution that awaits you. we did not destroy ghana you did with your hegemony and racist pepeni chauvinism so its you who will burn soon
Blow man 10 years ago

Long Live Akrantia Republic but,longer will Ghana live.

Long Live Akrantia Republic but,longer will Ghana live.
okofo 10 years ago

I don't want to dabble in ethnicity, but DO NOT underestimate the anger of the MAJORITY.

JJ Rawlings usurped power and persecuted AKANS with impunity, and here you're rubbishing Akans and calling them evil and worst when ...
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I don't want to dabble in ethnicity, but DO NOT underestimate the anger of the MAJORITY.

JJ Rawlings usurped power and persecuted AKANS with impunity, and here you're rubbishing Akans and calling them evil and worst when able to read and write. The fact is that, if you have commonsense, you'd know that, like it or not, if the anger of AKANS in Ghana erupts as a result of ethnic hatred against them, the response will not be funny, so stop that stupidity here!!
J. J. Lawrence 10 years ago

THIS TOGOLESE THIEF, ALEX SEGBEFIA MUST SHUT HIS UGLY FACE. WE THANK THE BLOODY USELESS FOOLS LIKE RAWLINGS AND MILLS FOR BRINGING ALL THOSE TOGOLESE AND EWE PRIMITIVE PEOPLE TO BE PART OF THE GHANAIAN POLITICIANS.

THIS TOGOLESE THIEF, ALEX SEGBEFIA MUST SHUT HIS UGLY FACE. WE THANK THE BLOODY USELESS FOOLS LIKE RAWLINGS AND MILLS FOR BRINGING ALL THOSE TOGOLESE AND EWE PRIMITIVE PEOPLE TO BE PART OF THE GHANAIAN POLITICIANS.
Kaffa 10 years ago

Okonfo do not worry about the EWE/Pepefour hedgemony noise. As my uncle used to say "wope bribi adi awu".

The Ayigbefo are afraid because of what JJ Rawlings/Kojo Tsikata did to Akans. The Pepefo will abandon the Ntrokosi ...
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Okonfo do not worry about the EWE/Pepefour hedgemony noise. As my uncle used to say "wope bribi adi awu".

The Ayigbefo are afraid because of what JJ Rawlings/Kojo Tsikata did to Akans. The Pepefo will abandon the Ntrokosi bastards when the day of judgement arrives. They are just trembling like cowards.
Kojo Opoku-London 10 years ago

shut up. Tsatsu Tsikata is not a Ghanaian. Tsatsu and all Ewes come from Togo. They came to Ghana to destabilise Ghana. SEgebfia is a thief. Ewe thief. Ewes are daylight robbers.

Kuffolur helped Ghana mopre in 8 years than ...
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shut up. Tsatsu Tsikata is not a Ghanaian. Tsatsu and all Ewes come from Togo. They came to Ghana to destabilise Ghana. SEgebfia is a thief. Ewe thief. Ewes are daylight robbers.

Kuffolur helped Ghana mopre in 8 years than Ewe dominated PNDC/NDC 22 years to date. Why should we allow Ewe foreigners take over our Country. Kuffour corrected what the Ewe Thieves did. Why should Kumasi Army Barracks/ Bridgade be headed by an Ewe when Ho one is headed by an Ewe? Will Ewes allow an Ashanti as their Regional Minister? Kuffour put an Ewe are Voltarians regional Minister. Fuck off to TOGO
Roy 10 years ago

Be it NPP or NDC which wins the case. It is Ghana which has worn. 29/08/13 will speak to all of us.

Be it NPP or NDC which wins the case. It is Ghana which has worn. 29/08/13 will speak to all of us.
Dr Robert K Glah 10 years ago

The Ghana SC judges have asserted the independence of the Judiciary against the Executives, Parliament and the partisan electorate.

The judiciary is the guardian of the law and the people. The law is what the SC judges say ...
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The Ghana SC judges have asserted the independence of the Judiciary against the Executives, Parliament and the partisan electorate.

The judiciary is the guardian of the law and the people. The law is what the SC judges say.
KOA 10 years ago

Atuguba should not even be on this case less alone preside over it as he is obviously conflicted. How can any self respecting judge sit over a case in which a relative,his nephew,has a substantial interest in the outcome as h ...
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Atuguba should not even be on this case less alone preside over it as he is obviously conflicted. How can any self respecting judge sit over a case in which a relative,his nephew,has a substantial interest in the outcome as his continuous employment as Executive Secretary to the President depends on Mahama remaining in office? His involvement brings disrepute to the court as it raise the specter of judicial impartiality. Does anyone have any doubt as to who will be the beneficiary of Atuguba's vote? The cause of justice is undermined and weakened when a judge's vote becomes predictable based on familial relationship. Shame on you Atuguba for bringing disrepute to the court.
KWARNING NJ 10 years ago

YOU HAVE SAID WHATEVER I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SAY FOR A VERY LONG TIME ON THIS MEDIUM WE CALL GHANAWEB. THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH.

YOU HAVE SAID WHATEVER I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO SAY FOR A VERY LONG TIME ON THIS MEDIUM WE CALL GHANAWEB. THANK YOU SO SO SO MUCH.
Kofi Asaase Asa--- Mantukwa 10 years ago

Yes. You are very right!

'Conflict of Interest' and

'Contempt of Court'!

Lets wait till the verdict!

Lets wait till August 29th.

Yes. You are very right!

'Conflict of Interest' and

'Contempt of Court'!

Lets wait till the verdict!

Lets wait till August 29th.
okofo 10 years ago

Your point is valid!!

Your point is valid!!
Kojo T 10 years ago

Were they not room mates. These people all know each other. After all tsatsu lectured a lot of them at UG

Were they not room mates. These people all know each other. After all tsatsu lectured a lot of them at UG
Kaffa 10 years ago

Hey I just read on this web that Afari Djan and Atta Mills wet to Nkrumak Ideological college at Winneba. True?
If they all know each other as this Kojo T idiot says the NPP has won the case? It is the Law STUPID!

Hey I just read on this web that Afari Djan and Atta Mills wet to Nkrumak Ideological college at Winneba. True?
If they all know each other as this Kojo T idiot says the NPP has won the case? It is the Law STUPID!
Obiri Yeboah London. 10 years ago

One of Ghana's most stupid and armed robber Alex Segbefia too had the audacity to say something.No wonder the country is now ruled by ndc brainless people, Segbefia the ewe thief and the useless man will be the next victim to ...
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One of Ghana's most stupid and armed robber Alex Segbefia too had the audacity to say something.No wonder the country is now ruled by ndc brainless people, Segbefia the ewe thief and the useless man will be the next victim to stand before Justice Atuguba now that the law is in action.Look at his ugly face,it is only in ndc that such a person will be appointed a minister.idiot
T DI BOY 10 years ago

WELL DONE ATUBIGA

WELL DONE ATUBIGA
THE TRUTH 10 years ago

JUST WANT TO KNOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT NOT HAVE SUCH POWERS AS WELL TO DEAL WITH VULGAR LANGUAGE USERS IF YES WHY ARE THEY NOT USING IT IF NO IS THERE ANY WAY OUT ? WE ARE TOO ARROGANT IN OUR LNGUAGES

JUST WANT TO KNOW DOES THE GOVERNMENT NOT HAVE SUCH POWERS AS WELL TO DEAL WITH VULGAR LANGUAGE USERS IF YES WHY ARE THEY NOT USING IT IF NO IS THERE ANY WAY OUT ? WE ARE TOO ARROGANT IN OUR LNGUAGES
Africanus 10 years ago

Officials from the government are the worst culprits. And the president (both Mills and Mahama) have played the partisan game of protecting their own. The police, besides being the most corrupt organization in Ghana, have bee ...
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Officials from the government are the worst culprits. And the president (both Mills and Mahama) have played the partisan game of protecting their own. The police, besides being the most corrupt organization in Ghana, have been afraid to act, because the IGP is a political appointment, serving not the interest of Ghanaians but the government of the day. Hence the need for the SC to step in. I am happy they did.
Kanawu 10 years ago

To me what Sir John said about Atuguba was okay b'cos dat man look like voodo

To me what Sir John said about Atuguba was okay b'cos dat man look like voodo
NANA IS USING BAWUMIA 10 years ago

STUPID KUFUOR FUCKED AND MESSED UP THE JUDICIARY SYSTEM TO SUIT HIS OWN BLACK UGLY ASS. THIS FOOL WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY THE MOST STUPID PRESIDENT IN GHANA'S HISTORY. EVEN DICTATORS LIKE AKUFFO AND ACHEAMPONG WERE BETTER THA ...
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STUPID KUFUOR FUCKED AND MESSED UP THE JUDICIARY SYSTEM TO SUIT HIS OWN BLACK UGLY ASS. THIS FOOL WILL GO DOWN IN HISTORY THE MOST STUPID PRESIDENT IN GHANA'S HISTORY. EVEN DICTATORS LIKE AKUFFO AND ACHEAMPONG WERE BETTER THAN THIEVING KUFUOR, OWNER OF HOTEL DE WAA WAA AND SHOPPING MALLS.
opoku UK 10 years ago

hei ! you defended Woyome. it will be fair on your part to bring ur share of the booty back to the state.

hei ! you defended Woyome. it will be fair on your part to bring ur share of the booty back to the state.
Kofi Asaase Asa--- Mantukwa 10 years ago

It rather exposed unguarded utterances by some politicians and also exposed Justice Atuguba himself of the need for him to attend 'anger management' class.

The first of such trait was exposed when the NPP lawyers expresse ...
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It rather exposed unguarded utterances by some politicians and also exposed Justice Atuguba himself of the need for him to attend 'anger management' class.

The first of such trait was exposed when the NPP lawyers expressed their dis-satisfaction when it was announced that he was the president of the Supreme Court judges who was going to hear the petition.

How did Justice Atuguba behave?

Throwing tantrums and hitting his hand on the table in disgust.

Why?

Because he was being prevented to chair the committee of the Supreme Court Judges inorder for him to articulate and exhibit to the rest of Ghanaians that he is the most powerful Ghanaian on earth.

Did Justice Atuguba forget that the 'head' should not tell the 'hand' that it is of no use to the human body?
Kofi Asaase Asa--- Mantukwa 10 years ago

The sentence should had been:

He was the president of the Supreme Court Judges who WERE and NOT who WAS as written. Sorry for the typographical error!

The sentence should had been:

He was the president of the Supreme Court Judges who WERE and NOT who WAS as written. Sorry for the typographical error!
Agya_Manso 10 years ago

And 'vested' with state power to literally run political enemies,then logically speaking,the state no longer enjoy any of the trememdous powers given to it by the sovereign will of Ghanaians! And let`s not kid ourselves into ...
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And 'vested' with state power to literally run political enemies,then logically speaking,the state no longer enjoy any of the trememdous powers given to it by the sovereign will of Ghanaians! And let`s not kid ourselves into believing that this last-minute intervention by Justice Atubuga and his colleagues can reverse this dangerous trend deliberatly set in motion by those who have used this manoueuvre to 'immunize' themselves from the checks and balances imposed by the 1992 consititution. And unless we all sit up and examine this diabolical plan carefully disguished as an effort to enhance and depeen our 'democratic culture',as though one ever existed under a true definition of the the term,we will all be doomed sooner than we think!
Look,can any sound and objective person in this country doubt that 'real state power' is now being exercised by a 'brigade' of high school drop-outs who have,with the support and blessing their political 'caucistas',have cleverly cultivated a mass following of so-called "serial-callers" who have become 'attack-dogs',providing protection to them,as well as the 'big paymasters' at the top?
The frightening thing is that people who know better, have vigorously defended this 'madness' under the guise of protecting free speech!
Serious 10 years ago

Atu the clown. Atu the joker. Atu buga Nuga the illiterate judge who knows nothing. This man is a waste of time and knows no law!! He was a disaster!!!

Atu the clown. Atu the joker. Atu buga Nuga the illiterate judge who knows nothing. This man is a waste of time and knows no law!! He was a disaster!!!
Nii 10 years ago

The best and sweet thing that happened to Ghana in recent time is the Panel of judges headed by Atubiga.It gives so much joy to us that something and someone can stand up to be counted,to put a stop to the impunity and madne ...
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The best and sweet thing that happened to Ghana in recent time is the Panel of judges headed by Atubiga.It gives so much joy to us that something and someone can stand up to be counted,to put a stop to the impunity and madness going on in the name of politics and free speech .I am so happy and what those who thing their balls are bigger than Atubiga should cough.
concerned citizen 10 years ago

Yes Mr.Segbefia,
Ghana need sanity. It is embarrassing to hear insults heaped on our leaders from the president to the judges. Free speech does not give one the right to insult anybody if one is trained well. We need more ...
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Yes Mr.Segbefia,
Ghana need sanity. It is embarrassing to hear insults heaped on our leaders from the president to the judges. Free speech does not give one the right to insult anybody if one is trained well. We need more Justice Atubigas to clean the system.
okofo 10 years ago

The SC cannot cow the people: there must be a distinguish between contempt and FREEDOM of speech.

The Supreme court MUST be careful not to impose icommunicado, because it could be counter-productive.

No amount od FORC ...
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The SC cannot cow the people: there must be a distinguish between contempt and FREEDOM of speech.

The Supreme court MUST be careful not to impose icommunicado, because it could be counter-productive.

No amount od FORCE or INTIMIDATION can silence freedom, including SPEECH. If a speech happens to be a THREAT, then it's no more a "free speech" but a threat, of which the speaker must be held accountable, nonetheless, I don't think the Supreme Court has the RIGHT to tell us what we can say, or not say.
Atta Kwaku 10 years ago

dicially is still under the influence of the executive.How many NDCs have punish for contempt?Can one compare Ken Kuranc,Sir John,nd Adoryeh to Stephen Atubiga?What is his position in NDCas compare with this three men.Anita D ...
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dicially is still under the influence of the executive.How many NDCs have punish for contempt?Can one compare Ken Kuranc,Sir John,nd Adoryeh to Stephen Atubiga?What is his position in NDCas compare with this three men.Anita Desooso is a free woman,Asiedu Nkatsia and the President Mahama himself.Master It buy your argument.dicial is still under the influence of the executives.
Kofi 10 years ago

If it is a crime to criticize the Supreme Court Justices, it should also be a crime to say something favorable about them. Nobody should say anything, favorable or otherwise.

If it is a crime to criticize the Supreme Court Justices, it should also be a crime to say something favorable about them. Nobody should say anything, favorable or otherwise.
KB 10 years ago

well said but Alex why has it been left to come this far and who allowed it? The munite that Pres Mahama was allowed to pass the victory comments during his meeting with the party gurus, at the church in eastern region and du ...
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well said but Alex why has it been left to come this far and who allowed it? The munite that Pres Mahama was allowed to pass the victory comments during his meeting with the party gurus, at the church in eastern region and during id ul fitir programme and Atuguba did not hear to caution him opened the flood gates so do not blame Sir John.
Kojo Opoku-London 10 years ago

Shut up you Ewe thief. You stole from poor Ghana. You came to Uk but could not make it but you went to Ghana with the sole aim of stealing from Ghana.

You are a thief in all by name. You are a disgrace. Ewe thieves.

No ...
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Shut up you Ewe thief. You stole from poor Ghana. You came to Uk but could not make it but you went to Ghana with the sole aim of stealing from Ghana.

You are a thief in all by name. You are a disgrace. Ewe thieves.

No matter what happened to other people regarding the Election Petition, you are a thief.
SEGBEFIA AND THE STOLEN CARS........ 10 years ago

WE MUST CONTINUE TO ASK THIS NDC GUY WHOLE STOLE MANY CARS FROM THE HARBBOUR WITH CARL WILSON. WHERE THOSE CARS SEGBEFIA STIOLE AND SOLD TO HIS CRONIES FOR CHEAP PRICES? WE WILL ALL WAIT FOR THE SUPREME COURT VERDICT TO FIND ...
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WE MUST CONTINUE TO ASK THIS NDC GUY WHOLE STOLE MANY CARS FROM THE HARBBOUR WITH CARL WILSON. WHERE THOSE CARS SEGBEFIA STIOLE AND SOLD TO HIS CRONIES FOR CHEAP PRICES? WE WILL ALL WAIT FOR THE SUPREME COURT VERDICT TO FIND ALL THE CARS THAT WERE STOLEN BY THE NDC GOONS. GOD WILL EXPOSE ALL THOSE WHO HAD RUINED GHANA. WE DO THINK THAT THE NDC DOESN'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO GADDAFI, WHO SUPPORTED THE PNDC/NDC AND THESE NDC MEMBERS ARE STILL DREAMING ON TO DESTROY GHANA. THE DAY OF RECKONING WILL SOON ARRIVE AND NOBODY WILL HAVE NO WHERE TO RUN TO, ESPECIALLY SEGBEFIA AND COMPANY....KWAKU KYERETWIE KUMASI-KAJETIA.
Mawutor 10 years ago

In the end,It is better to be defeated on principle than to win on lies and Ghana will still be the winner!

In the end,It is better to be defeated on principle than to win on lies and Ghana will still be the winner!
SULE 10 years ago

Ghana is in the abyss already because of your stinking itchy fingers and shameless thievery.

Ghana is in the abyss already because of your stinking itchy fingers and shameless thievery.
BENONY TONY AMEKUDZI, ESQ. 10 years ago

FROM: BENONY TONY AMEKUDZI, ESQ.
TO: H.E.FORMER PRESIDENT OF GHANA JOHN AGYEKUM KUFUOR

INFO TO:
H.E.PRESIDENT OF GHANA JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA

H.E.DR.MR.PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

H.E.MR.FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE W.BUSH
...
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FROM: BENONY TONY AMEKUDZI, ESQ.
TO: H.E.FORMER PRESIDENT OF GHANA JOHN AGYEKUM KUFUOR

INFO TO:
H.E.PRESIDENT OF GHANA JOHN DRAMANI MAHAMA

H.E.DR.MR.PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA

H.E.MR.FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE W.BUSH

H.E.FORMER PRESIDENT OF GHANA FLT.LT.JERRY JOHN RAWLINGS

DEAR H.E.FORMER PRESIDENT OF GHANA JOHN AGYEKUM KUFUOR & THE READING PUBLIC OF GHANAWEB.COM,
TO RESPECTFULLY REFER TO THE ABOVE RELATED SUBJECT-MATTER AND ALSO THE PUBLICATION BELOW OF PEACE FM RADIO AND TO RESPECTFULLY REQUEST H.E.FORMER PRESIDENT OF GHANA JOHN AGYEKUM KUFUOR TO PUBLISH THE CASE I DULY MADE FROM AMERICA IN FAVOUR AND ON BEHALF OF TSATSU TSIKATA, ESQ. ON THE ABOVE RELATED MATTER AND GAVE INFORMATION COPY TO H.E.MR>FORMER PRESIDENT GEORGE W.BUSH WHEN HE WAS THEN THE PRESIDENT OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA THAT LED TO H.E>FORMER PRESIDENT OF GHANA PARDONING TSATSU TSIKATA, ESQ.
THIS IS BECAUSE THE CASE I DULY MADE WAS REMOVED FROM THE INTERNET SITES.
HOWEVER, I MUST STATE THAT THE FINAL DECISION OF GRANTING THE PARDON WAS ENTIRELY THE ACT OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND I HOPE THAT THE TIME I MADE THIS HUMBLE CASE I WAS NOT INTER-MEDDLING.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED.
GOD BLESS GHANA AND AMERICA.
VERY TRULY YOURS,
BENONY TONY AMEKUDZI
INTERNATIONAL LAWYER/LEGAL CONSULTANT

Tsikata’s Jail Anniversary Message Calls For More Questions

Date: 28-Jun-2013 >

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Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, lead Counsel for the National Democratic Congress in the ongoing election petition filed by three leading members of the New Patriotic Party, is certainly one of the most brilliant personalities of our generation. That is without question.

At the age of nine, he was a student of the prestigious Mfantsipim School in Cape Coast. Five years later, he was at the University of Ghana, Legon, going through the paces that would qualify him for the first degree in law.

When he graduated from the nation’s premier institute of higher learning with LLB, he was barely 18, the age when most Ghanaians were in their first or second year at the secondary school. At the University of Ghana, where he was lecturer in law until the coup of December 1981, he was adored by his students.

With Jerry John Rawlings in the saddle after the December 31 coup d’etat, Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, born at Keta in the Volta Region in December 1950, became one of the advisers to the Chairman of the Provisional National Defence Council, and thus one of the most powerful men in this land of our birth.

On June 18, 2008, Mr. Tsikata was sentenced to a five year jail term, for willfully causing financial loss to the state. He was said to have guaranteed a loan of GH¢230,000 of state money to Valley Farms, a private venture, from funds provided by Caisse Central, now Agence Française de Development in 1993, while he was Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation.

Barely five months later, Mr. Tsikata was released, pardoned by then President John Agyekum Kufuor. Last week, on the fifth anniversary of his incarceration, the former Chief Executive of GNPC celebrated his release by issuing a press statement. State-run Daily Graphic published the piece titled “Five Years On – His mercies never fail.” The article featured in almost all the newspapers, classified by Mr. Martin Amidu, former Attorney-General, as “Criminally-rented NDC press.”

Mr. Tsikata saw his release after barely five months in prison as a miracle. “Five years ago,” wrote Mr. Tsikata, “on June 18, 2008, a judge, without any advance indication that she was going to deliver judgment, pronounced a sentence of five years imprisonment on me.

“I was taken that afternoon to the Nsawam Medium Security Prison to begin serving my sentence. Within five months of that day, however, I was out of prison and alive in circumstances that were nothing short of a miracle,” he wrote.

In brief, Mr. Tsikata was telling the world that prison conditions were horrible. He suffered an asthmatic attack on the night the doors of the prison gates were shut behind him. “I could hardly breathe. In that state, it was not possible to lie to sleep. I sat on a chair by my bed breaking out into a sweat…Only the grace of God kept me through those hours of the night of Saturday, November 15.”

We thank God for the life of Mr. Tsikata. Unfortunately, not many of those brutalised by the junta he lent support to and advised, were given the opportunity Mr. Tsikata was allowed.

The trial judge might not have waited for the lead counsel before ruling on the case. But every Ghanaian knows that Mr. Tsikata was given every opportunity to prove his innocence in a case that dragged on for nearly six years in various courts.

The eight top officials executed in June 1979, when he was a leading adviser to Jerry Rawlings, were never given a day’s notice to argue their cases. When Air Vice-Marshall Joy Amedume was tied to the stakes and executed for borrowing ¢50,000 (GH¢5) nobody gave him the chance to prove that he had collateral to back his demand. He was alleged to have used his influence, and that was it.

On June 30 1982, three judges and an army officer were taken away from their places of abode, with a curfew in force, and executed at the Bundase Military Firing Range. When the disappearances were first discovered, then junta head Jerry John Rawlings, shedding the tears of a crocodile, appeared on national television and announced that the abductions were the work of the enemies of the revolution.

What is interesting is that at the time he made that declaration, Jerry Rawlings knew that three of the four murderers were residing in his own Boys Quarters at Ridge, a suburb of Accra. As the leader of the group, Sgt. Samuel Amedeka, was to state later, at the time they went round picking their victims, the murder squad knew that they were carrying out the orders of the Provisional National Defence Council, chaired by Jerry Rawlings.

Sad to state, but many Ghanaians believe that the abductions and murders were sanctioned by the leadership of the military junta. Incidentally, Mr. Tsikata was known in the Ghanaian society as the Chief Adviser to Jerry Rawlings at the time.

Jerry Rawlings and his aides could declare their innocence to the high heavens, but most Ghanaians know that the whole abduction was instigated by the leadership of the PNDC to put fear into the citizenry, at a time the very existence of the military junta was being questioned.

All the three murdered judges – Poku Sarkodie, Kwadwo Adjei Agyepong and Cecelia Koranteng Addow, were sitting on review cases brought by aggrieved persons, in respect of the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council, the previous military junta headed by Mr. Rawlings. For the attention of Mr. Tsikata, an adviser to the PNDC Chairman at the time, none of these victims was given a minute to plead his/her case.

I do not know who advises Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata. If I were him, I would lie low after all the atrocities he aided the PNDC to perpetrate against fellow human beings in the name of a revolution that has only replaced the rich and famous of society.

At the time he was in prison in 2008, Mr. Tsikata was supposed to have carried out a consultancy job that landed him a cool $5 million on his release, with the National Democratic Congress back in power. I am not in a position to argue about what kind of consultancy he undertook. I have a worry though. I do not believe there is any Ghanaian alive who could vouch on the number of Ghanaians sent to the so-called People’s Court, established on the advice of legal brains behind the military oligarchy, and allowed to argue their cases, as Tsikata did.

Mr. Tsikata cannot claim that he was not one of the legal brains that aided the establishment of the People’s Court. Neither is he unaware of long custodian sentences passed on people on the flimsiest of charges. Victims of the People’s Court, I dare state, never had the comfort of six years to plead their cases.

There was no proper legal defence, as Mr. Tsikata had the luxury of experiencing. In many of such cases, the victims were never given the opportunity to clear their names.

Lest I forget, even when President John Agyekum Kufuor granted a pardon to the convicted criminal, Mr. Tsikata swore to clear his name in court. Five years on, we are still waiting.

What is interesting is that the administration of John Evans Atta Mills handed over $5 million of public money to Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata on the pretext that a firm he owns -Strategic Oil and Gas Resources Company, had provided consultancy services to Mitsui Ocean Development Company Limited, the organization that won the bid for the construction of the Floating, Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) Kwame Nkrumah, for the exploration of oil in the Western Region.

Critics say Mr. Tsikata might have been in prison at the time the consultancy was said to have been provided. In Parliament, Deputy Minister of Energy in the Kufuor administration, Mr. Kobina Tahir Hammond, engaged former Minister of Energy Dr. Oteng Adjei, to tell Ghanaians whether Tsatsu’s company had truly been paid that whooping amount of $5 million.

Mr. Hammond also wanted to know what kind of services Strategic and Oil Resources provided to warrant such a quantum payment from the public purse. The Minister’s response was that a private company had the right to be sub-contracted by MODEC. “The award of the contract was not illegal; payment of money would also not be illegal,” Dr. Oteng stated.

The Member of Parliament for Adansi Asokwa insisted on a definite answer, but the Minister remained evasive, forcing a confrontation that lasted one hour, until the Speaker intervened on the basis that the time allotted for the purpose had elapsed.

Obviously displeased by Mr. Hammond’s request, Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata issued a press release the next day. “It would have been hard to fathom why a Parliamentary question would be put about legitimate contractual relations between two companies, but for the obsessive determination of people like Hon. Hammond to get Tsatsu Tsikata by hook or crook,” Mr. Tsikata stated in his release.

“Unfortunately for such people, however, the activities of Strategic Oil and Gas Resources (Stats Oil), a company of which I am a share-holder, as well as Chief Executive, will stand up to every scrutiny,” he stated.

The jury is still out on whether the $5 million payment is justified, especially, when the deal was said to have been hatched at a time the Chief Executive, and the man said to have presented the so-called consultancy, was in prison.

In a moment like this, my heart goes out to Mr. Baah Boakye, one-time official of the Foreign Service of Ghana who was transferred under a certificate of emergency to West Germany. The message out there is that his wife failed to join him. I am told that the woman involved is the same person cited in Mr. Tsikata’s testimony, as providing solace to the then prisoner in hospital.

This is a cruel world. Many had no opportunity to clear their names when they were dispatched to the next world on flimsy charges. On the other hand, those who helped to perpetuate those heinous crimes against their fellow beings, are paid huge sums for providing consultancies from locked prison cells. It all adds up to the murky world, where hard work is rather punished.

Tsikata’s five year jail anniversary message should galvanised Ghanaians to ask more questions about a revolution that rewarded rhetoric against hard work. I shall return!

Source: Ebo Quansah/The Chronicle

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