TSATSU TSIKATA: The great defender

He has captivated the petitioners' lawyers with legal trickily, and speeches of astonishing legal brilliance, he has reduced our hardened judges to speaking with involuntary pauses and repetitions and, in this historic and celebrated ELECTION PERTITION case, he is re-writing our legal history. No wonder Lawyer Mr Tsatsu Tsikata can lay claim to being the greatest Ghanaian trial lawyer of all time

Ghanaian Lawyers often get a bad rap for a variety of reasons and the public generally views them as amoral but necessary nuisances. And while some lawyers very easily fit this description, it would be a grave mistake to lump all lawyers into this unfortunate stereotype. For in the same way that there are two sides to every story - there are two lawyers in every trial.

A lawyer like Mr Tsatsu Tsikata is best describe as a special breed, he is without peer, he thinks quickly on his feet, he can break down a situation and a person in real time. He will get to break this witness point by point by first breaking down the mountains of information lurking in the background of this legal battle.

Tsikata is a giant in the courtroom (how ironic his name means 'ANT'). His peers are in awe of how he operates. It is hard to put your finger on what makes Mr Tsatsu Tsikata such a great court room tactician, but watching him take on the equally brilliant Dr Bawumia, one thing is definitely true. He has the genius ability to think like the jury and to make complex matters understandable...without being condescending; he has the rare talent for anticipating the ways the examination of the witness can go wrong and having a contingency plan for all of them.

Throughout his cross examination of Dr Bawumia, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata has shown the rare ability to conceptualize the themes and facts of this case in a way that marry the applicable law with what will be the key and undisputed facts and in a way that will resonate with the judges as embodying fundamental fairness or equity. Mr Tsatsu Tsikata has shown total conviction and the ability to show it while maintaining a demeanour of balance and credibility.

Mr Tsatsu Tsikata's brilliant legal mind is one of the first things cited when people discuss his strengths. What's most impressive about that gift of great legal memory - is Mr Tsikata's uncanny ability to recall a key fact, legal citation or piece of contradictory testimony at moments of the most intense pressure.

Throughout this election hearing, Mr Tsikata has proved his ability to look calm and in control even when things are coming unglued in the courtroom. I must confess for me, watching Tsikata is like watching a voracious animal devouring its prey, and that is the feeling you get in his presence. He scares people on his own side. The opposition lawyers are terrified to mention his name, they are now accusing him of 'springing surprises' but the truth is that he Mr Tsikata can digest mountains of information with unbelievable speed, which has left them panting and sweating to catch up with his cross examination.

Finally before beginning his cross examination of Dr Bawumia today, Mr Tsatsu Tsikata firstly, paced in front of his desk, then, gently, he stood in a corner --elegant, athletic, noble-- like a fighter imaging the bout to come. Under the outwardly gentle guise you could see an inner toughness of someone who will use any combination of punches to win big.

Dr Bawumia Beware!!!!!!!!!!!! For I have the feelings that, Tsikata will 'fly like an butterfly and sting like a bee'

Writer
Shuk Abubakar
Tweet me @abushuk2000
http://ghananewsday.blogspot.co.uk