Halt Any Further Action On Tsikata -JAK

President Kufuor has directed the suspension of any further action on the prosecution of the former chief executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC) Tsatsu Tsikata.

Government, which is yet to explain the attempted arrest of Mr. Tsikata at church on Sunday, took the decision to prevent any further public condemnation of its actions.

Deputy Attorney General Gloria Akuffo had declared after an Accra High Court discharged Mr. Tsikata last Friday, that he will be re-arraigned before court soon.

The court had ruled upholding a preliminary objection raised by Tsikata's lawyer that the charge of "wilfully causing financial loss to the state" brought against his client was unconstitutional.

Tsikata had earlier dealt a major legal blow to the government when the Supreme Court ruled in his favour that the fast track high courts were unconstitutional.

The directive from the President to the Attorney General for the suspension of the prosecution comes amidst public condemnation of government for making desperate and faulty attempts to 'nail' the former law lecturer.

A statement issued by Information Minister Jake Obetsebi Lamptey said the suspension is "pending the presentation on the 20th of March 2002, of the reasons for the Supreme Court, on the matter of the Fast Track High Courts and the possible review of that decision."

Government had earlier requested for a detailed report on circumstances surrounding the attempted arrest of Tsikata.

The offices of the Interior Minister and the Attorney General have asked the police administration to furnish them with relevant information before any official comments are made on the matter.

The Police administration has already instituted an investigation into the matter to ascertain who ordered the two officers to effect the arrest of Mr. Tsikata.

The administration is also seeking to establish exactly what occurred when the officers allegedly requested Mr. Tsikata to accompany them to the Police Headquarters.

The two officers have been authorised to write statements explaining why they went to the church, who authorised them and what transpired.