NRC Postpones Tsikata Hearing

Accra, Feb. 9, GNA - The appearance of Captain Kojo Tsikata (rtd), former National Security Adviser, at the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) on Monday was brief as the Commission was compelled to postpone hearing to Tuesday to enable its Counsel to study a 40-paged-document submitted by Dr Obed Asamoah, a prominent Accra Legal Practitioner, on behalf of his client.

The Chairman of the Commission Justice Kweku Etru Amuah Sekyi announced the adjournment after a short courtroom theatrics involving him and Dr Asamoah.

Dr Asamoah had sought to lead Captain Tsikata in his evidence but the Chairman declined the request saying that the Commission was not going to vary its procedure and that the Counsel of the Commission would rather lead the Witness.

When Dr Asamoah insisted and wanted to make a submission Justice Amuah Sekyi asked him to sit down while the Commission considered the next course of action following the submission of the document. Soon after Captain Tsikata had affirmed Dr Asamoah announced his presence and said he was leading a team of legal practitioners that included Mr Larry Adjetey, Mr Opoku Kyeretwie and Mr Samuel Cudjoe for Captain Tsikata.

Captain Tsikata, who was dressed in a white tunic kaftan with a khaki trousers and brown shoes, appeared cool and collected as he listened to the evidence of the first witness of the day. The public gallery was filled to capacity with an unusual number of women wearing veils around their necks.

Mr Akrasi Sarpong, one time Provisional National Defence Council Secretary for Eastern Region, Mr Bede Ziedeng, Deputy National Organiser and Mr Haruna Iddrisu, National Youth Organiser, both of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), were present at the hearing.

The appearance of Captain Tsikata was in response to two subpoenas from the Commission dated 21 October 2003 and 12 January 2004. Both referred to a petition submitted by Mrs Jemima Acquah regarding the abduction and murder of her husband and three High Court Judges on 30th June 1982.

JoyOnline Version: Drama As NRC Adjourn Tsikata Hearing

Captain Kojo Tsikata’s much anticipated appearance at the National Reconciliation Commission turned out into an anti climax after his appearance was adjourned barely ten minutes into the sitting following a disagreement with Tsikata's lead counsel Dr Oben Asamoah.

Commission chairman Justice Amoah Sakyi adjourned the Tsikata case to Tuesday after to enable members of the commission study a document that Tsikata’s legal team had submitted.

Earlier, Justice Amoah Sakyi had refused a request by head of Tsikata’s legal team Dr Obed Asamoah(pictured) to read the 40-page document before Tsikata made his submission because it was against the houses’ procedure.

The two then engaged in a not too friendly exchange as the chairman of the commission attempted to stamp his authority.

Justice Amoah Sakyi: Our procedure is that our counsel would lead him through his evidence and then if you have any question, you can ask after.
Dr Asamoah: Me lord, the statement given by the witness is a very short one. He has made a fuller version which I am going to submit to you this morning and since the counsel is not conversant with the issues, I would like to lead him through.

Justice Amoah Sakyi: I am afraid we can’t allow it in this case. This is the procedure we have always followed. If you want to present a fuller statement, you may do it now and copies would be made available to the commissioners.

Dr Asamoah: We are submitting a fuller statement.

Justice Amoah Sakyi: Yes hand it over to our staff.

Dr Asamoah: If I may create your indulgence to make a few observations about the procedure here.

Justice Amoah Sakyi: Oh Please, we are not here to be lectured about procedure. Our procedure is established. we’ve followed it all along, we are not going to change it to suit any person. Please you have submitted a document, we are working on how we are going to deal with that document. Please take your seat.

Dr Asamoah: Me Lord.

Justice Amoah Sakyi: Please take your seat, Dr. Obed Asamoah

Dr Asamoah: Your letter to us invited us to make a statement.
Justice Amoah Sakyi with a raised voice: Take your seat whiles we sort out how we are going to deal with it.
Tsikata, the National Security chief in the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era was at the commission to respond to allegations of human rights abuses and react to his implication in the murder of three judges and an army officer in 1982.