Opuni case: There was no farmer complaint against Lithovit- Witness to court

Additionally, Mr. Dodoo indicated that he was not aware of any cases of an alleged breach of the PPA law against Sidalco, Wienco, Chemico, or Luis Dreyfus.

Is allowance instantly strangers applauded

A witness for the first accused person, Mr. Charles Tetteh Dodoo has indicated that between 2014 and 2016 when he served on the board of COCOBOD, they received no complaint from farmers against Lithovit fertilizer.

When being cross-examined by Nutifafa Nutsukpui, counsel for Mr. Seidu Agongo, he also admitted that in seeking approval in 2014 from the Public Procurement Authority to sole-source some fertilizers, COCOBOD only needed to note the total cost it was seeking to purchase the products but not delivery period.

Moreover, when confronted by counsel, the witness responded in the affirmative that the prosecution’s stance that Agricut’s letter to COCOBOD in response to the latter’s request for price quotation was in breach of the PPA law should necessarily mean also that all responses received from Sidalco, Wienco, Chemico, and Luis Dreyfus were also in breach of the PPA law.

Additionally, Mr. Dodoo indicated that he was not aware of any cases of an alleged breach of the PPA law against Sidalco, Wienco, Chemico, or Luis Dreyfus.

On how issues of performance of agrochemical being applied by farmers were brought to the Board’s attention, the witness indicated that it was through the various monthly performance reports submitted by divisions like CRIG to management.

In addition to this, he mentioned that the board of COCOBOD had two farmer representatives who brought issues on adverse performance of crops to its attention.

The court, presided over by Justice Clemence Honyenuga JSC is expected to continue proceedings today, April 11, 2022.

Background

The former COCOBOD CEO and Agricult Ghana Limited CEO, Seidu Agongo, are standing trial together with Agricult Ghana Limited for allegedly causing the state to lose over GHS 217 million in a cocoa fertilizer transaction.

Dr. Opuni and Mr. Agongo are facing 27 charges including defrauding by false pretenses, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, corruption by public officers, and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.

They have both pleaded not guilty to the charges, and are on a ¢300,000 self-recognizance bail, each.

Agongo is alleged to have used fraudulent means to sell substandard fertilizer to the COCOBOD for onward distribution to cocoa farmers, while Dr. Opuni is accused of facilitating the act by allowing Agongo’s products not to be tested and certified as required by law.