The Attorney-General, Dominic Ayine, has officially withdrawn all charges against Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni, former CEO of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), and businessman Seidu Agongo. This decision was announced on Tuesday, January 28, at the Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh.
State Attorney Ms. Enam Loh Mensah informed the court that the AG had instructed the withdrawal of all charges against the accused, leading the State to file a notice of withdrawal in accordance with the AG’s directive.
Dr. Opuni and Seidu Agongo had been facing 27 charges, including allegations of defrauding by false pretences, willfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, and corruption by a public officer.
The trial, which began in 2018, centered on the alleged procurement of substandard fertilizers for COCOBOD, resulting in significant financial losses for the state.
The prosecution claimed that Seidu Agongo’s company, Agricult Ghana Limited, supplied Lithovit Liquid Fertilizer to COCOBOD under questionable circumstances, including allegations that the fertilizer was substandard and had not been properly tested or approved.
Dr. Opuni was accused of facilitating the deal and bypassing procurement processes, potentially causing financial harm to the state and jeopardizing the livelihoods of cocoa farmers. Throughout the trial, both Dr. Opuni and Seidu Agongo maintained their innocence, denying 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With the charges withdrawn, Dr.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.
