Kumasi, Sept. 15, GNA - Members of a pressure group 'Free Tsatsu Tsikata Now Campaign' have called for the immediate release of Tsatsu Tsikata, former Chief Executive of GNPC, sentenced to five years imprisonment by an Accra Fast Track High Court for willfully causing financial loss to the state.

They contended that proceedings at the court prior to and subsequent to June 18, this year, when Tsatsu was sentenced affected the credibility of Ghana's judiciary.

They said when being sentenced, Tsatsu's counsel was not in court, and the presiding judge, Mrs Justice Henritta Abban, gave her ruling even though the Supreme Court had fixed June 25 for a ruling on whether the International Finance Corporation (IFC) should be required to provide evidence in the trial concerning Valley Farms Project. Mr Kyeretwie Poku, a Spokesman for the Group made the call at a forum in Kumasi at the weekend.

He noted that a prosecution witness, Mr Jim Wilson testified that Valley Farms were doing well and the company was determined to make profit for shareholders and wondered how Tsatsu who transformed GNPC could be imprisoned without any justifiable cause. "Tsatsu has given selfless service to Ghana in many capacities including his contributions to strengthening the rule of law," he added.

Mr Kwesi Pratt Junior, Member of the Group, appealed to Government to review Tsatsu's case in order not to stall initiatives by Ministers of State to attract foreign investments into the country.

He urged Government to conduct thorough investigations into alleged misappropriation of funds by some NPP functionaries to give meaning to the declaration of zero tolerance for corruption and not committed to selective justice. 15 Sept. 08