By Morkporkpor Anku
Accra, April 17, GNA – Mr Tsatsu Tsikata, a renowned Ghanaian legal liminary has advised that the integrity of Ghana’s criminal justice system must not be compromised by political interests or personal grudges.
He said criminal investigations and prosecutions must be guided strictly by law and evidence, rather than political considerations or attempts to project power.
Mr Tsikata was speaking at the third UPSA Law School Honourific Lecture and Award Ceremony, where a Lifetime Achievement in Law Award was conferred on him.
The Award was in recognition of his outstanding career, teaching and impact and his remarkable lifetime achievements as distinguished lawyer, public servant, and legal academic
The event, also recognised Mr. Tsikata’s exceptional contributions to the legal profession, his enduring commitment to constitutional development, and his unwavering advocacy in the public interest.
It also recognised his influence in shaping generations of legal practitioners and scholars in Ghana and beyond.
The event convened a distinguished audience, including members of the bench and bar, academia, public service, the diplomatic corps, and other notable stakeholders to celebrate the achievements of one of Ghana’s most respected legal figures.
Notable among them were Vice-President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, Justices of the Supreme Court, Justice Francis Emile Short, Madam Anna Bossman, Prof Joshua Alabi, George Akilakpa Sawyerr, and Larry Gbevlo-Lartey.
He emphasised the need to safeguard the independence and integrity of Ghana’s justice system.
“Political affiliation, settling political or personal scores, or wanting to show where power lies should not be the reason for criminal prosecution. Not even for a criminal investigation,” he added.
Mr Tsikata said the misuse of legal processes eroded public confidence in the rule of law and weakens democratic institutions.
He urged stakeholders within the justice delivery system to uphold fairness, objectivity, and professionalism.
Mr Tsikata’s remarks formed part of broader reflections on his career, including his experiences within Ghana’s legal and political landscape.
He recount his imprisonment during the tenure of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, describing it as a defining moment that reinforced his belief in the importance of an independent judiciary.
Mr Tsikata, as the former Chief Executive of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation(GNPC), was convicted in 2008 on charges of causing financial loss to the State.
The case related to a loan guarantee he authorised in the 1990s while serving at GNPC, involving a private company that later defaulted on its obligations.
While prosecutors argued that his actions resulted in financial loss to the State, his defence maintained that the decision was taken in the national interest and within his official mandate.
He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by an Accra Fast Track High Court and served part of his sentence at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison.
In 2009, he was granted a Presidential pardon by the the out going President John Agyekum Kufuor, which he declined.
Subsequently, in 2010, the Supreme Court quashed his conviction, ruling that the trial had been flawed and amounted to a miscarriage of justice, effectively clearing him of wrongdoing.
Mr Tsikata reiterated that Ghana’s democratic future depended on the strength and independence of its institutions.
He called for continued vigilance to ensure that justice was administered without fear or favour.
GNA
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong