The Legal Colossus, properly called “The Law”.
A man who has reached the highest attainment of any ambitious lawyer. His students are now Supreme Court Judges, the Speaker of Parliament, many more parliamentarians, and many Justices of the Court of Appeal and High Court.
The legal icon deserves national recognition. TSATSU TSIKATA Esq., the man who fought legally through thick and thin in all the treason charges against former President J. J. Rawlings.
He built strong buffer legal system that shielded the National Democratic Congress in almost all cases brought against it.
He has advised key state institutions, trained many senior lawyers, judges, and statesmen. He won a United Africa Company (UAC) scholarship in 1960 to begin his secondary education at the age of nine (9) at Mfantsipim School.
He gained admission into the University of Ghana, Legon, at the age of 14, where he obtained an LL.B First Class degree at the age of 18.
He was called to the Bar in 1975, marking a solid 50 years at the Bar.
He became known for his courtroom eloquence, masterful litigation, and constitutional arguments that have shaped Ghana’s legal system and history. A landmark case that displays his resilience is the TSATSU TSIKATA v ATTORNEY GENERAL (2002), a case where the learned counsel challenged the constitutionality of the Fast Track Courts.
On 28th February, 2002, the Supreme ruled by a 5:4 decision in favour of the learned counsel by declaring that the fast track courts were unconstitutional. After the Court’s decision, GhanaWeb captured his aura in their report dated 28/02/ 2002 as follows:
“Mr. Tsikata came out of court with the airs of someone who had just achieved a major feat”.
This case was not a walk in the park for Mr. TSIKATA. He battled against a group of lawyers including His Excellency the Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo (another legal icon we shall honour in due course), Hon. Gloria Akuffo, the former Attorney General of the Republic of Ghana, Osafo-Sampong, the DPP of Ghana at the time and E. A Addo, the Solicitor General of Ghana at the time.
The group of lawyers later successfully reversed the decision of the ordinary bench in a review application.
Don’t be engulfed so much in the case so soon, this is just as iceberg of the battles Mr. TSIKATA fought. Let’s transition to the other aspect of his journey.
Mr. TSIKATA tutored at Corpus Christi College, Oxford University, and was later appointed a lecturer at the University of Ghana, where he taught numerous Justices of the Supreme Court of Ghana, including Justice Victor Mawulom Dotse, Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, Justice Yaw Appau, as well as the current speaker of Parliament of Ghana, Hon Alban S.K. Bagbin and many other notable statesmen.
He shaped the understanding and wisdom of most senior icons in the legal fraternity. Keta is proud of him, the nation bows in honour.
His contributions to Ghana go beyond law. His loins gave us the respected musician M.anifest, who is by all standards a distinguished artist.
At this point, it will worth reading the perspective of other writers. Mr. Peter Martey Agbeko describes this milestone as follows:
“As he marks 50 years at the Bar, Tsatsu Tsikata stands tall as a symbol of intellectual power, moral integrity, and personal resilience. He has been tried in the court of public opinion, subjected to political persecution, yet he has emerged stronger, his reputation intact”.
Throughout his illustrious career, Tsikata has held notable positions, including serving as the Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation and handling landmark cases in Ghana.
Legal Africa Magazine also writes as follows:
” In a profession defined by precision, integrity, and resilience, few names evoke as much reverence in Ghana’s legal fraternity as Tsatsu Tsikata. This year, the nation stands in collective reflection and admiration as it celebrates 50 years of his service at the Ghana Bar, honouring not only his professional accomplishments but also the principles that have underpinned his journey”.
Let’s honour our legends while they live.
Thank you.
By Faith Offoma Klenam
Admin, Legal Academy