• About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
The Herald Ghana
Advertisement
  • Home
  • General
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Editorial
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Feature
  • Health
  • World
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • General
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Editorial
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Feature
  • Health
  • World
No Result
View All Result
The Herald Ghana
No Result
View All Result

Captain Kojo Tsikata finally wearing his “wooden pyjamas” to sleep

November 22, 2021
Reading Time: 4 mins read
0 0

Tough man, Captain Kojo Tsikata, once head of National Security during the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) regime is finally about to wear his “wooden pyjamas”; a humorous name he had for a coffin.


The celebrated Achimota school product, a military strategist who was top of his army cadet class in the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS) in Britain, died last Saturday, age 85.


Captain Tsikata nicknamed “Carlos Gómez” a cover name from his military exploits, particularly in Angola and other places, had been away from public eye for some time now, but quietly shuffling between his native Keta and Accra.


The mystical figure also nicknamed “Gblagblaza” Cockroach in his native Anlo dialect whose mystery was in his stony silence and few words, has been unwell for some time now, including having to be on life support machine at a point, The Herald learnt.

RelatedPosts

Promote Girl Child Education- Speaker Bagbin urges Yaluvi – Lokukope Queen-mother

Hitman appeal to NDC to intervene as three Techiman Chiefs frustrate him

NDC presidential hopefuls Kobeah, Duffour vetted


Statement from the family signed by Col. Joshua Agbotui (Rtd) and Fui Tsikata, said Captain Tsikata, died in the early hours of Saturday, November 20, 2021.


“In accordance with his wishes, the family will be making arrangements for a private family funeral,” the statement added but failed to mention where he died.


With the family statement, it’s unclear if President Nana Akufo-Addo, who had several times referred to him as his big brother, friend and mentor, will attempt to give him a military burial.


“Kojo T” as he was also called, was said to have had a remarkable military career and was the first among his peers to attain the rank of a Captain. He could have stayed on and risen to be a fully-fledged Lieutenant General of the Ghana Armed Forces, but opted out early; he loved military actions.


At the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, the young Kojo Tsikata, was said to have emerged top of his officers training class and the then President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah sent a delegation from Ghana to London to attend his passing out parade, with pictures of him making it into the dailies at the time.


Those who knew him, while serving as a military officer, said he was the delight and envy of many young officers, and to his senior officers, he was the model soldier that all should aspire to be.


Senior officers who saw him in action during Ghana’s engagement in the United Nations (UN) mission during the Congo political crisis in the 1960s which eventually saw the assassination of Patrice Émery Lumumba on January 17, 1961, say he endeared himself in the hearts of Congolese with his strategy and tactical discipline.


During the Angolan Civil War; Captain Tsikata, fought alongside Angola’s former President Jose Eduardo Dos Santos’ People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and against the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA).


In 1982, he was appointed to serve in the government of the late Jerry Rawlings as the head of national security.
Upon leaving the Rawlings government in mid 1990s, reports are that he spent time in Cuba, Venezuela, Libya and other countries providing security strategies.


He was later honoured by many of the countries including Libya, Cuba, South Africa, Algeria, Angola and others. Some gave him their highest state honours.


He sparked controversy when he rejected a national award to be conferred on him in the category of the order of Volta companion under President John Kufour of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in 2008.


In a statement dated June 23, 2008, Kojo Tsikata said “I have just returned from a trip outside Ghana. While abroad, I learnt of the bizarre proceedings in the High Court before Mrs. Henrietta Abban on Wednesday, 18 June, which have led to the incarceration of my cousin, Tsatsu.”


“I have now learnt that my name is on a list of persons on whom national honours are to be conferred. I cannot fathom the mental processes that led to my name being put on that list. Let me put it beyond doubt that I will not accept any honours from Mr John Agyekum Kufuor or any of his cronies who have blatantly and cynically engaged in a systematic manipulation of the judicial process.”


His former boss, the late Jerry John Rawlings, also rejected the award, saying he wants justice to be served in the cases of Yaa Naa, Alhaji Issa Mobila, Tsatsu Tsikata and Dan Abodakpi.


Kojo Tsakata, was a friend to the late poet and literature don, Prof. Kofi Awoonor and Dr Obed Asamoah, with whom he attended Achimota School.


One time the news media claimed that he had died, Captain Tsikata, the next day remarked he had not yet worn his wooden pajamas, implying he had not yet been put in a coffin.

“In 1992, he traveled to Iran , where he stayed for months. Ghanaian media mostly opposed to the PNDC regime ran riot with fake news that Kojo T had died, with no info coming from gov’t. Finally, Gbabladza arrived at the Kotoka International Airport, and one journalist asked him at the VVIP lounge about the death story, and he responded, ” I am not yet ready for the wooden pyjamas.”


The statement announcing his demise was signed by Col. Joshua Agbotui (Rtd), late President Rawlings’ uncle and Fui Tsikata, his cousin, a senior brother to Tsatsu Tsikata.


Prof. Kofi Awoonor, his friend was cremated, but it’s unclear if Captain Tsikata had also opted for cremation.

Source: www.theheraldgh.com

Get real time update about this post categories directly on your device, subscribe now.

Unsubscribe
Previous Post

Joe Ghartey challenges Ofori-Atta, sports minister & lands Isaac Asiamah in trouble over Sekondi stadium renovation work

Next Post

Weija: Four suspected armed robbers arrested; One Pistol retrieved

RelatedPosts

Promote Girl Child Education- Speaker Bagbin urges Yaluvi – Lokukope Queen-mother

Promote Girl Child Education- Speaker Bagbin urges Yaluvi – Lokukope Queen-mother

4 hours ago
Hitman appeal to NDC to intervene as three Techiman Chiefs frustrate him

Hitman appeal to NDC to intervene as three Techiman Chiefs frustrate him

4 hours ago
I mobilized funds to build the current NDC Headquarters- Dr Duffuor

NDC presidential hopefuls Kobeah, Duffour vetted

4 hours ago
NDC opens nominations for Presidential and Parliamentary primaries today

Will The NDC focus its attention on the new CI by the EC?

4 hours ago
Why John Mahama wept over 35 ‘Pay As You Go’ NDC MPs

Why John Mahama wept over 35 ‘Pay As You Go’ NDC MPs

4 hours ago
Embarrassment! ECG catches Osu Police Barracks with illegal power connection

Embarrassment! ECG catches Osu Police Barracks with illegal power connection

4 hours ago
Next Post

Weija: Four suspected armed robbers arrested; One Pistol retrieved

E/R: Parents grateful as IGP enrolls stripped and paraded teenagers in new schools

ESPA calls for environmental service providers in Northern Ghana to join umbrella organisation

Leave Comment
No Result
View All Result

Recent Posts

  • Promote Girl Child Education- Speaker Bagbin urges Yaluvi – Lokukope Queen-mother
  • Hitman appeal to NDC to intervene as three Techiman Chiefs frustrate him
  • NDC presidential hopefuls Kobeah, Duffour vetted
  • Will The NDC focus its attention on the new CI by the EC?
  • Why John Mahama wept over 35 ‘Pay As You Go’ NDC MPs
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

Copyright © 2022 The Herald Ghana. All Rights Reserved

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • General
  • Entertainment
  • Politics
  • Editorial
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Feature
  • Health
  • World

Copyright © 2022 The Herald Ghana. All Rights Reserved

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In

Add New Playlist