Former COCOBOD Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni, has accused the Akufo-Addo administration of subjecting him to years of unjust political persecution, following the withdrawal of all charges in a long-running corruption case.
Speaking to journalists after a Thanksgiving service on Sunday, April 20, Dr. Opuni reaffirmed his innocence and described the legal ordeal as a deliberate attempt to frustrate him.
“I think that today… tell the whole world that God has delivered me from the hands of my enemies and the wicked who decided that for eight years, they were going to frustrate me. I was prosecuted for eight years and I kept praying. I knew that I was innocent,” he said.
On January 28, 2025, an Accra High Court presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh announced that Attorney-General Dominic Ayine had ordered the withdrawal of all charges against Dr. Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo, effectively bringing an end to the case.
State Attorney Enam Loh Mensah informed the court that the Attorney-General had directed the withdrawal of all charges against former COCOBOD CEO Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo, prompting the formal filing of a notice of withdrawal.
Dr. Opuni and Mr. Agongo had faced 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, and corruption by a public officer. The case, which began in 2018, centered around the procurement of Lithovit Liquid Fertilizer from Agongo’s company, Agricult Ghana Limited. Prosecutors claimed the fertilizer was substandard and unapproved, and alleged that Dr. Opuni bypassed procurement protocols, resulting in financial loss to the state and harm to cocoa farmers.
Throughout the trial, both Dr. Opuni and Mr. Agongo maintained their innocence, pleading not guilty. They were each granted bail of GH₵300,000.
The case became one of the most high-profile legal battles in Ghana, involving numerous witnesses, including scientists, government officials, and cocoa farmers. It was also marked by delays, changes in judges, and procedural disputes, which led to criticism from observers and legal experts.
Some critics pointed to the trial as politically charged, arguing that it lacked impartiality and was aimed at damaging reputations rather than seeking justice.
In 2023, the case experienced significant delays, sparking frustration among the accused and the public. Legal analysts also raised concerns about whether the prosecution had assembled sufficient evidence to secure a conviction.
The State Attorney did not offer any reasons for the decision to drop the charges.
