No grudge against Kufuor, says Tsikata

Tsatsu Tsikata, ex-GNPC boss, has stated emphatically that he bears no grudge against former President John Agyekum Kufuor, whose New Patriotic Party (NPP) government imprisoned him.

The top lawyer described his incarceration as a God-sent opportunity which enabled him to experience, know and figure out some loopholes in Ghana’s legal system which were hitherto unknown to him.

According to him, he has sustained a cordial relationship with former President Kufuor ever since he was released from prison, stressing that he has no bitterness or anger against the former president.

“I don’t have any bitterness against President Kufuor. I greet him whenever we meet,” Mr Tsikata, who spoke on a number of national issues in an interview with Confidence K. Baah of Kessben TV in Kumasi, said.

He recounted a friendly chat he once had with ex-President Kufuor when the two of them happened to be on the same flight to Kumasi, reiterating that there is no animosity between him and the ex-president.

Mr Tsikata noted that his refusal to accept a presidential pardon granted him by ex-President Kufuor should not be misconstrued for animosity between the two of them.

He explained that he turned down the ex-president’s pardon “because my judgment was wrong and I was contesting the justice of the judgment. I was seeking justice…”

Mr Tsikata likened his days at the Nsawam prison to “going to the university to learn,” indicating that his days behind bars opened his eyes to several issues about the legal system which were hitherto hidden to him.

Prior to his incarceration, the top lawyer said he didn’t believe that reports that several innocent people were languishing in jail were true, adding that he saw people who had unjustifiably been on remand for several years.

Mr Tsikata described his imprisonment as a move by God to enable him (Tsikata) become abreast of the several flaws in the legal system, stressing that “God sent me to prison for a reason.”

Sounding very religious, the ex-GNPC chief showered praise on God for making it possible for him to spend some time in prison to learn more about the country’s legal system.

According to Mr Tsikata, who was one of the lawyers who represented the ruling NDC in court during the election petition hearing at the Supreme Court, he decided to represent the NDC to ensure that the right thing was done.

He said the NDC won the 2012 polls genuinely, adding that Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s popular claim that “You and I were not there” during court proceedings was false.

Mr Tsikata said the fact that the NPP had representatives at the polling centres, who signed the pink sheets after the polls, clearly defeated Dr Bawumia’s “You and I were not there” comment.

He, however, stated that the 2012 election petition had contributed to strengthening the country’s electoral process and also boosted Ghana’s image across the globe as one of the best in terms of the practice of democracy.

“The Supreme Court petition provided an opportunity to clarify our electoral system which became an inspiration for countries around us such as Nigeria,” Mr Tsikata pointed out.

Mr Tsikata briefly touched on the devastating effects of the erratic power supply in the country,’ saying, “I feel the dumsor; it is a matter of national concern.”