Tsikata goes to Supreme Court after Appeal Court

Accra, June 29, GNA - Tsatsu Tsikata moves to Supreme Court after an Appeal Court had ruled he should open his defence at an Accra Fast Track Court.

Tsatsu is facing charge of wilfully causing financial loss of 2.3 billion cedis to the state and intentionally misapplying public property, contrary to Section 1(2) of the Public Property Protection Decree 1977 (SMCD140).

He has denied the charges.

The Fast Track Court (FTC) trying him on Tuesday had to adjourn the case to July 29, to enable him go to the Supreme Court, on July 7, to challenge the ruling of the Court of Appeal, that asked him to open his defence at the FTC.

Tsikata was to have opened his defence today, following the dismissal of an appeal filed at the Court of Appeal, challenging the FTC's rejection of a submission of no case.

Counsel for Tsikata, Professor E.N.O. Dankwa, went to the Supreme Court to make a substantive appeal for "stay of proceedings", in order to further challenge the Appeal Court's dismissal of his submission of no case against his client.

The FTC, presided over by Mrs Justice Henrietta Abban, Appeal Court Judge sitting on the case as an additional High Court Judge, had admitted him to a 700 million-cedi self-recognisance bail.

Sometime in March 2003, the FTC over-ruled the submission of no case and ordered that Tsatsu should open his defence in the case.

Tsikata then filed an appeal at the Court of Appeal in November 2003, which was then dismissed on the grounds that it lacked merit and he was therefore, ordered to go back to the FTC, to open his defence. He then filed an appeal to challenge the Appeal Court's ruling and is seeking a relief from the Supreme Court to quash that decision and order, and also to uphold his submission of "no case".

The Prosecution Team comprised Ms Gloria Akuffo, Deputy Attorney-General; Mr Osafo Sampong, Director of Public Prosecution and Mr Augustines rpt Augustines Obuor, Assistant State Attorney.