Today in history: Kufour pardons Tsatsu Tsikata a few hours before he left office.

Read Time: 2 minutes

Tsatsu replies:

Dear President Kufuor,

An official from the Prisons Headquarters came to the Korle Bu Hospital Cardiothoracic Centre earlier today to inform me that he had a warrant under your hand granting me a pardon. I was not allowed a copy of your document. Your apparent exercise of the Presidential prerogative of mercy, in respect of a conviction and imprisonment which you were the prime mover of is the height of hypocrisy. I have never sought, and I do not need, your pretence of mercy. Justice is my quest and I will pursue this quest in accordance with the Constitution and laws of Ghana.

The desecration of justice that was perpetrated against me in the Fast Track High Court on June 18th 2008 was at your instance, initiated in 2001 with your first Attorney General Nana Akufo-Addo. Nothing can divert attention from the responsibilities of the Judges before whom my appeal and other legal processes are currently pending concerning my case.

Indeed, your action in these final hours of your administration improperly interferes with these judicial processes and is clearly in bad faith. Your participation, indeed your leading role, in desecrating justice, not only in relation to me but in many other cases, are part of your legacy as President of Ghana. But I am convinced that these bad examples will not endure as part of our country’s future. Psalm 94 verse 15 says prophetically: “justice will again be found in the courts, and all righteous people will support it.”

Yours Sincerely,
Tsatsu Tsikata.

H.E President J.A Kufuor
Jubilee House
Accra