SC judges not beyond reproach; leave Tsatsu alone - Kakra Essamuah

A member of the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) communications team, Kakra Essamuah, has jumped to the defence of Tsatsu Tsikata who has been lampooned for accusing a Supreme Court judge of bias.

According to him, merely criticizing a Supreme Court judge of being politically bias does not amount to scandalizing the court.

Mr. Tsikata who was lead counsel for the NDC in the just ended presidential election petition accused a member of the panel, Justice Annin-Yeboah, of ruling "consistently" against the NDC.

He claimed Justice Annin-Yeboah throughout the hearing of the election petition allowed his allegiance to former President Kufuor who appointed him to the Supreme Court to cloud his judgement .

Tsatsu Tsikata’s unsavory comment has been condemned by many including former President Kufuor, Peace Council and the Ghana Bar Association who believe it amounts to scandalizing the Supreme Court.

But on Asempa FM’s Ekosii Sen programme on Monday, Kakra Essamuah said those attacking Tsatsu Tsikata "don't believe in freedom of speech".

"Assuming that what Tsatsu said was the case, what is wrong with it? Even the president who is the most important public servant in the country is insulted everyday how much more a Supreme Court judge. Is a Supreme Court judge more important than a president?" he quizzed.

Conceding that the integrity and dignity of the Supreme Court judges must be protected, he said "that does not mean we should not criticize the judgement".

The NDC man described as unfair the unwarranted attacks on Mr. Tsikata by members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) whom he claims "become jittery anytime Tsatsu speaks".

Kakra Essamuah maintained that Tsatsu did not err in his criticism of the Supreme Court judge but "he [Justice Annin-Yeboah] should allow his work to speak for him".

On the contrary, Director of Communication of the NPP, Nana Akomea, a co-panelist on the show, expressed shock at Kakra's position.

He said he expects the NDC as a party to openly reprimand Tsatsu Tsikata for misconducting himself.

The NPP Director of Communications observed that a legal luminary of Tsatsu's stature should have been measured in his comments given that the verdict had gone in his favour.

Nana Akomea called on the General Legal Council to take immediate steps to discipline Mr. Tsikata to serve as a deterrent to others.