Renowned Ghanaian lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata has praised his wife, Esther Cobbah, for her unwavering support during his imprisonment under the administration of former President John Agyekum Kufuor.
He made the remarks during the UPSA Law School honourific lecture and awards ceremony held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, under the theme “Celebrating the Lifetime Achievements of Lawyer Tsatsu Tsikata.”
Reflecting on his time in incarceration, Mr Tsikata credited his wife’s dedication for helping him endure the period.
“In the midst of what I went through this whole period, my wife, Esther, in particular, stood with me with total dedication and in such an amazing way that is why I’m still here and alive,” he said.
His comments formed part of broader reflections on his personal experiences and career during the event.
Background
Tsatsu Tsikata, a former Chief Executive of the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation (GNPC), was imprisoned following a high-profile criminal case that attracted significant national attention.
He was convicted in 2008 on charges of causing financial loss to the state during former President John Agyekum Kufuor’s tenure. The case stemmed from a loan guarantee he authorised in the 1990s while serving as GNPC boss, involving a private company that later defaulted on its obligations. Prosecutors argued that his actions resulted in financial loss to the state, while his defence maintained that the decision was taken in the national interest and within his mandate.
He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment by an Accra Fast Track High Court. His conviction sparked widespread public debate, with critics describing the trial as politically motivated, while supporters argued it reflected efforts to enforce accountability in public office.
Mr Tsikata served part of his sentence at the Nsawam Medium Security Prison before being granted a presidential pardon in 2009 by the late former President John Evans Atta Mills.
Following his release, the Supreme Court of Ghana in 2010 quashed his conviction, ruling that the trial had been flawed and constituted a miscarriage of justice. The decision effectively cleared him of wrongdoing.
The case remains one of Ghana’s most debated legal and political episodes, often referenced in discussions on law, governance, and political transitions in the country.
