The Court of Appeal has discharged and acquitted former boss of Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), Tsatsu Tsikata of willfully causing financial loss to the state.
Kasapa FM’s Court Correspondent, Daakyehene Ofosu Agyemang reported that the three member of appeals court Justices, S.O Kanyoke, Kusi Appiah and Sir Dennis Adjei said his conviction constituted a miscarriage of justice.
Mr Tsatsu Tsikata was unconditionally pardoned by former President J.A. Kufuor on his last day in office but he rejected the pardon and insisted that he would continue to pursue justice in the court of law.
Tsatsu Tsikata challenged that a pardon is not the same as discharged and acquitted.
Background
Tsatsu Tsikata was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment on June 18, 2008 by the Accra Fast Track High Court for causing financial loss to the state through a loan that the GNPC guaranteed for Valley Farms, a private cocoa-growing company.
He was found guilty on three counts of wilfully causing financial loss of GH¢230,000 to the state and another count of misapplying public property.
His trial started in 2002 and travelled back and forth the court ladder until his sentence, which generated a lot of controversy.
Valley Farms contracted the loan from Caisse Francaise de Development in 1991 but defaulted in the payment and the GNPC, which acted as the guarantor, was compelled to pay it in 1996.