Presidents and lawyers

The tortuous prosecution of a former state oil company boss raises questions about the independence of the judiciary

Even his opponents concede that Tsatsu Tsikata is a gifted lawyer, whose ties with ex-President Jerry John Rawlings have kept him at the centre of Ghana's bitter political battles. Tsikata was formerly Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation. On 18 June, he was sentenced to five years in gaol for causing financial loss to the state. With presidential and parliamentary elections due in December, his case has become a rallying cry. It has become a key measure of the independence of the judiciary, too.

Article Tags:
Tsatsu Tsikata, Jerry John Rawlings, John Atta Mills, American, French, Henrietta Abban, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Kwame Peprah, Victor Selormey, Dan Kwasi Abodakpi, Joe Leo Seko Abbey, Alex Ashiagbor, British, Kwesi Botchwey, Nigerian, Caisse Française de Développement, Société Générale, Osageyfo

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