Tsatsu Tsikata, the lead counsel for the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the 2020 election petition case at the Supreme Court commands a lot of respect.
This is the second time Mr Tsikata’s taking part in an electoral petition trial.
The astute Ghanaian lawyer served as the lead counsel for the NDC when the then opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) presidential candidate Nana Akufo-Addo filed a petition at the Supreme Court to challenge results of the 2012 elections.
Mr Tsikata has also served as counsel to a number of notable personalities over the years–Captain Kojo Tsikata, his cousin, Kofi Awoonor and late former President Jerry John Rawlings.
Early Life and Education
Tsatsu Tsikata was born on 1st October 1950 in Keta, Volta Region of Ghana but grew up in Adabraka, a suburb of Accra.
Tsikata began school at an early age as he always followed his elder brother Fui to school.
He enrolled in Additrom Preparatory School and later attended Mrs Sam’s Preparatory School, the same school which late former President Rawlings attended.
Tsatsu Tsikata was moved to Accra Newtown Experimental School. Here, he was jumped from Year 2 to Year 3, making him to be in the same class with his elder brother Fui.
Lawyer Tsikata won a United Africa Company (UAC) scholarship in 1960 to start his secondary education at age 9 at the Mfantsipim School.
He gained admission into University of Ghana at age 16 and pursued an LL.B first degree.
He was 18 years old when he graduated from the University. Only one other 18-year-old had completed a degree programme at that time.
Lecturers of the Ghanaian lawyer included Professor Ofosu Amaah and Dr Obed Asamoah, a former foreign minister and Attorney General of the Republic of Ghana.
After graduation, Tsikata won a post-graduate scholarship from the University of Ghana to Oxford University where he again obtained first class honours in Bachelor of Civil Law which is equivalent to a master’s degree at other British universities.
Lawyer Tsikata held a Junior Research Fellowship at Corpus Christi College, Oxford University where he also served as a tutor.
He returned to Ghana in 1974 and was appointed a lecturer at the Law Faculty of the University of Ghana.
Some of his students hold high positions in the country and they include Alban Bagbin, Speaker of Parliament of Ghana, Kwamena Ahwoi and Freddie Blay, former first Deputy Speaker in the Parliament of Ghana.
Trial, Jail and Pardon
People often call Tsatsu Tsikata ‘The Law Faculty’ due to his exceptional knowledge of the law and bravery intellectual arguments on both national and international laws.
In 2008, President John Agyekum Kufuor government jailed Tsatsu Tsikata for willfully causing financial loss to the state in his capacity as the former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC).
President Kufuor granted him an unconditional presidential pardon in 2009 but Tsatsu rejected it. Stressing his innocence, he filed an appeal on June 30, 2016.
The Court of Appeal cleared Tsatsu Tsikata of any wrong doing.
Family And Social Life
Mr Tsikata is one of seven siblings. His father, Godwin Kwaku-Sru Tsikata was Textiles Sales Manager at the United Africa Corporation (UAC).
He is happily married to Madam Esther Cobbah and they are blessed with three children, one of whom is award-winning Ghanaian musician, M.anifest.
Tsikata is Christian and an elder of the Asbury Dunwell Church in Accra.
In terms of his sporting life, Tsikata is known to be a cricketer in the past.
Work And Net Worth
Tsatsu Tsikata is an academic and a lawyer. He was also a former CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation. He is a notable affiliate and legal counsel to the NDC and regarded as one of the leading member of the political party.
He’s counted among the Top 5 richest lawyers in Ghana. According to various online resources, famous Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata net worth is estimated at US$1-5 Million. He earned the money being a professional Lawyer and Lecturer.
SOURCE: Kasatintin.com
Editor’s Note: Article written with additional materials from Wikipedia,myjoyonline.com and other online resources.
