A former Head of National Security during the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) regime, Captain (retired) Kojo Tsikata, is dead.
The family of the former military officer confirmed in a statement that he died in the early hours of Saturday, 20 November 2021.
“In accordance with his wishes, the family will be making arrangements for a private family funeral,” the statement signed by Col. Joshua Agbotui (Rtd) and Fui Tsikata, said.
The ex-serviceman also served as a Head of Foreign Affairs for the PNDC.
He had been in charge of national security since 1982 and also joined the Rawlings administration on 21 January 1995.
He also served as a member of the Council of State of Ghana.
He is a close relative of renowned lawyer and prominent NDC member, Tsatsu Tsikata.
A retired supreme court judge, Mr Justice G. E. K. Aikins, intimated that Captain Tsikata was implicated in the kidnapping and murder of three high court judges and a retired army officer on 30 June 1983 during the PNDC regime but was never tried.
Among the suspects were Captain Tsikata and Sergeant Alolga Akata-Pore, both key members of the then PNDC.
Ghanaians brought Tsikata under scrutiny, but during the National Reconciliation Commission (NRC) hearing he denied being involved in the killing of the judges.
There was also insufficient evidence to prosecute Captain Tsikata according to the Attorney General at the time.
One reason was that, before the execution of the sole witness, he withdrew his accusation against Captain Tsikata.
In 1995, he was asked to join a negotiating team with Ibn Chambas who was the then Deputy Foreign Minister, and Brigadier General Agyemfra, accompanied by Harry Mouzillas from the Ghana News Agency as a journalist to cover the events.
They travelled to join Mr James Victor Gbeho, the then Chairman of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and a Resident of Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings and Mr Ate Allotey, a diplomat.
He rejected a national award to be conferred on him in the category of the order of Volta companion under President Kuffour. He was listed as one of the six government officials under the NDC regime to receive the award.[11]
He was appointed by Gaddafi to a senior advisory position in charge of the Al Mathaba central committee, a support centre for the liberation movement and anti-imperialist and anti-Zionist organisations.
Captain Kojo Tsikata received one of Angola’s highest honours, known as Carlos Silva among Angolan fighters, for his role in the struggle for national independence.
Tsikata was a holder of the Solidarity Award and of the Order of “Carlos Manuel de Céspedes”, conferred by the Council of State of the Republic of Cuba.