The Attorney-General, Dominic Ayine has withdrawn all charges against Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni, the former CEO of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), and businessman Seidu Agongo.
This announcement was made on Tuesday, January 28 at the Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh.
Ms Enam Loh Mensah, a State Attorney, informed the court that the AG had directed the withdrawal of all charges against the two accused.
Consequently, the State has filed a notice of withdrawal pursuant to the AG’s instructions.
Dr. Opuni and Seidu Agongo were standing trial on 27 counts, including charges of defrauding by false pretences, willfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, and corruption by a public officer.
The case, which has been ongoing since 2018, revolved around the alleged procurement of substandard fertilisers for COCOBOD, resulting in financial losses to the state.
The prosecution alleged that Seidu Agongo’s company, Agricult Ghana Limited, supplied Lithovit Liquid Fertilizer to COCOBOD under questionable circumstances, with claims that the fertiliser was substandard and had not been tested or approved for use.
Dr. Opuni was accused of facilitating the deal and bypassing established procurement processes, allegedly causing financial loss to the state and endangering the livelihoods of cocoa farmers.
Both Dr Opuni and Seidu Agongo consistently maintained their innocence throughout the trial, pleading not guilty to all charges.
They were granted bail of GH₵300,000.00 each, pending the determination of the case.
The case has been one of the most high-profile trials in Ghana in recent years.
Over the course of the trial, numerous witnesses, including experts, government officials, and cocoa farmers, were called to testify.
The trial was fraught with controversies, including allegations of political undertones and perceived bias in the prosecution’s approach.
Some critics argued that the case was politically motivated.
In 2023, the trial suffered delays due to changes in the presiding judges and procedural challenges, sparking frustration among observers and defendants alike.
Legal analysts questioned whether the prosecution had sufficient evidence to prove its case beyond a reasonable doubt.
The State Attorney did not elaborate on the reasons for the withdrawal.
With the charges withdrawn, Dr. Opuni and Seidu Agongo are free from legal proceedings in this matter. However, the decision is likely to spark further debate about judicial reforms, prosecutorial independence, and the handling of high-profile cases in Ghana.
