Honouring Tsatsu Tsikata
What does it take to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award ?
Your guess is as good as mine.
In a star-studded fashion, the University of Professional Studies on 15/04/2026 honoured the Legal Stalwart Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata, an Astute Lawyer, a Sterling Professor, A Seasoned Academic, a Glittering Statesman, And a former CEO of GNPC for his rich contributions to leadership, to the advancement of justice and the strenghthening of institutions.
The celebration of the Legal Luminary; Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata brought together respected names from Academia, Governance, Politics and Business; not least among which were:
Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang
Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie – Current Chief Justice of Ghana
Former AG and Minister of Justice – Mrs Betty Mould-Iddrisu
Mr. Goosie Tandoh – Chairman of the 24-hour Economy for the ruling NDC government
Mr. Kwame Ntow Amoah (CEO of GNPC)
MD of Republic Bank Dr Benjamin Dzoboku
Nana Oye Lithur – Deputy Chief of Staff (Administration)
Justice Srem-Sai Deputy Attorney General of Ghana
Former EC Chairperson Mrs Charlotte Osei
Chairman of the Council of State Edward Doe Adjaho
Justice William Atuguba Retired Supreme Court Justice
Prof. Raymond Atuguba Director of the Ghana Law School
Dean Kofi Abotsi, UPSA Faculty of Law
Professor Frimpong Boateng
Prof. Thomas Stephens (Professor of Petroleum Law)
Oheneba Kissi Abayie (Representative of Otumfour Osei Tutu)
Manifest (Rapper)
A Keynote Address was given by Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyeman; the first ever Woman Vice President in Ghana who expressed the honour she felt in the presence of such a distinguished crowd.
Accoding to a Biography read, Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata successfully enrolled into the Bachelor of Laws program at the University of Ghana in 1952 at the age of just 16, and successfully completed at age 18 with First Class Honours. He subsequently won a Scholarship award to Oxford University, where he successfully obtained a first class honours in Civil law.
While at GNPC he made it his business to champion Human Capacity Development to equip the Corporation and Ghana manage Ghana’s energy reserves.
In his sterling legal career, he has represented his own Uncle during his Military Tribunal Tsikata. He represented Flt Lieutenant John Jerry Rawlings at the Bossman Trial at 1979, and subsequently became an Advisor to Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.
He was prosecuted for Causing Financial Loss to the Country; under a statute which did not already exist in a crime which was created to have retroactive effect. He was arrested on a Sunday and his Trial began in 2001. His conviction was finalized in 2008.
Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata rejected President Kuffour’s subsequent Presidential Pardon but was completely exculpated of any wrongdoing in 2016?
Is it not telling how the astute lawyer was arrested during President Kuffour’s time, and only exculpated of any wrong doing during the term of the NDC? What does such a precedent say about our Democracy?
Everything notwithstanding,VCRAC Crabbe once said, “In life, I did not come looking for money, I came looking for greatness.”
May we all strive for what is more enduring. Congratulations are well deserved to Mr. Tsatsu Tsikata for a life so well lived! (all in all).
