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New Patriotic Party MP KT Hammond has refused to backtrack despite a defamation suit by former GNPC CEO Tsikata whom he alleged has been paid money he does not deserve.

Although Tsatsu Tsikata has sued KT Hammond, the Andansi Asokwa MP told Joy News Monday, there is nothing defamatory about his claim because they are statements of facts.

‘I will meet him in court’ the former Deputy Energy Minister told Joy News.

Mr. Hammond last week alleged that the GNPC paid Tsatsu Tsikata about one million cedis as ex-gratia. He said three other former top managers at GNPC including his wife Esther Cobbah were also paid huge sums of money.

Mr. Hammond called for a presidential enquiry insisting that nearly 15 years after the four left GNPC, the payment of the ex-gratia was illegal. Although the GNPC Board confirmed the payments, Esther and Cobbah has said she has not received any payments. Tsatsu Tsikata, according to sources, has also not received any money.

But the two have maintained, they are owed compensations includng their contributions to the company's provident fund.

Mr. Tsikata has filed a defamation suit at an Accra High Court against KT Hammond.

But KT Hammond is unmoved."I stick to what I said" The payments he emphasised were done "irresponsibly, negligently, and for me criminally". "I wish him luck, good luck to him and I will meet him in court" KT Hammond said.

In the suit filed at the Accra High Court on 3 December 2015, Tsatsu reffered to comments KT Hammond made on Citi FM;

"People must feel the power of the law,and it/s very clear on the face of it that there's a criminal act in here, criminal negligence here, I mean there is nothing like innocent negligence or whatever, this is a criminal liability on the part of the chief executive, the board and all of them, indeed including the recipients.

"They should have known that this money was not properly due them. Mr. Tsikata, accomplished lawyer of his standing didn't know that he wasn't entitled to that money?"

"He is receiving stolen goods! He must be looking to going to court to answer for this'.......

"Something must be done about this Tsikata matter, One human being! One human being! What is this? Today Mr, Tsikata, tomorrow Tsikata. Richard, you see people are complaining, but well not everybody. I'm sad, he does it and they come and attack K.T. Hammond, they attack K.T. Hammond. Can't they attack him? Can't he be arrested? EOCO, what are they doing? Can they now for once, we all await for what EOCO will do in this."

Tsatsu Tsikata says KT Hammond's comments casts him as a criminal. "By the reason of the publication of the said words, Plaintiff has been seriously injured in his reputation and has been brought into publc scandal, odium and contempt", the writ read.

Tsikata says KT Hammond will have his opportunity in court to justify his claims.

He also wants the court to grant a perpetual injunction restraining KT Hammond or his agents from further publishing or causing to be printed, published or distributed the said defamatory words or like words

The former GNPC CEO wants  "a retraction and apology by Defendant on Citi FM radio station with the same prominence as the publication on the 30th day of November 2015, together with a publication of the retraction and apology on the front or back page of the Daily Graphic newspaper for 3 (three) consecutive days"

He also wants the court to grant general and exemplary damages. He also wants KT Hammond to pay his counsel's legal fees.