A Deputy Minister of Information and Media relations, Ibrahim Murtala Mohammed, has stated that the attacks on the Lawyer for the third respondent in the 2012 election petition trial, Tsatsu Tsikata, by the NPP is because of the fact that he embarrassed Nana Akufo-Addo when he was the Attorney General, in court.

According to him, prior to the commencement of the election 2012 results contestation before the Supreme Court, the NPP began attacking Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata as soon as they made their intentions clear to the court.

He stated: “… and again they seem to have some fixation and I describe it as hatred against Tsatsu Tsikata. Even long before Tsatsu even started his cross examination, did the NDC say that Tsatsu Tsikata was going to prosecute our case? No. We have never said that and if anybody has evidence that person should say it”.

According to the Deputy Information Minister who doubles as Member of Parliament for Nanton, Tsatsu Tsikata once referred to a mistake made Nana Akufo-Addo, then Attorney General in the Kufuor administration as a basic mistake a law student wouldn’t make.

Recalling, Murtala Mohammed said Nana Addo signed a letter with a headline; "the President vrs Tsatsu Tsikata" instead of “the Republic vrs Tsatsu Tsikata”.

Tsikata, who was standing trial before the fast track court was convicted and jailed on June 18, 2008 by the presiding judge Mrs. Justice Abban, at a time an appeal by Tsikata was pending at the Supreme Court.

The decision means Tsatsu Tsikata did not get a fair trial, and his human rights were trampled upon contrary to Article 19 of the 1992 Constitution, which requires that accused persons are granted the opportunity to defend themselves and adduce evidence without hindrance.

“They fear him and the fear have resulted to hatred,” he maintained.

Speaking on Citi FM over the weekend, he insisted that the person of the astute lawyer was attacked and vilified in the pro NPP newspapers even days before he (Tsatsu Tsikata) began his cross examination.

He claims his observation comes on the back of seemingly endless personal attacks by especially one particular “newspaper which is supposed to be owned by a seasoned journalist who carry himself about as the crème de la crème of journalistic practice in this country, but that is what he does every day”.

In his view, the NPP is not happy with the lawyer for the third respondent because of the fact that he has compelled Dr. Bawumia, the second petitioner in the case to make concessions by moving away from quoting figures on the face of the pink sheet to analyzing them.

Hon. Murtala Mohammed, therefore, advised the NPP not to attack the personality of Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata because it is clear their fear has transformed into hatred.