COCOBOD never buys agrochemicals through an exclusive supplier – witness

General News on Wednesday, May 29, 2019

Source: ghananewsagency.org

2019-05-29

Yaw Adu-Ampomah, third prosecution witness in the trial involving Dr. Stephen Opuni and another Seidu Agongo, said that it was not true that COCOBOD only buys agrochemicals, fertilizers, fungicides and insecticides through one or more suppliers.

He pointed out that some of the purchases are made from single sources, while others were obtained by tender, in which a committee of entity auctions negotiates on behalf of COCOBOD.

Dr. Adu-Ampomah stated that one procurement committee per entity was reviewing the application and that this committee was chaired by the CEO with members from other user departments, such as procurement and legal services. .

Dr. Adu-Ampomah, Special Adviser on Cocoa Affairs to the Minister of Agriculture, spoke during the cross-examination of Dr. Samuel Cudjoe, counsel for Dr. Opuni.
Mr. Cudjoe pointed out to the witness that, in his testimony in the main proceedings, he told the court that before buying fertilizer, he had to advertise, auction and make calls. offers, but the witness was not in agreement.

The defense lawyer then asked the witness what his position was in June 2011 at COCOBOD. The witness indicated that he was then Deputy Director General for Agronomy and Quality Control.
Mr. Cudjoe asked the witness whether, as deputy director general, he had dealt with the Authority for Public Procurement (PPA) between 2009 and 2013, which the witness stated that he was in charge of. Sometimes occupied with them.

Defense counsel asked whether, as Deputy Director General, the letters concerning agrochemicals and fertilizers to the Director General of COCOBOD were still addressed to him, to which Dr. Adu-Ampomah responded. in the affirmative.

Dr. Opuni's lawyer then introduced into evidence a series of letters bearing different dates, which were written by the witness to the APP and which indicated a single or one-time purchase for the purchase of Fertilizer, agrochemicals, insecticides and fungicides, which was admitted by the court.

Mr. Cudjoe submitted a letter of approval dated May 10th from the APP regarding the purchase of 100,000 bags of Asase Fertilizer from Chemico Limited, at a cost of $ 3.3 million, with the acceptance of this badertion by the witness.

The lawyer again submitted another letter dated May 29, 2018, written by the witness to the APP, asking him to buy fertilizers, insecticides and fungicides for help from a single provider that was presented to the court. The witness acknowledged that the letter of June 8, 2018 was a letter of approval from APP.

Mr. Cudjoe told Dr. Adu-Ampomah that on March 27, 2018, he had again written to the APP for permission to buy fertilizer ($ 21 million), insecticides ($ 35.22 million) and fungicides ($ 34.66 million), which the witness agreed to.

Defense counsel then explained to the witness why there was no committee to review the application for the purchase of these agrochemicals and fertilizers, and that the witness did not tell the truth. at the court, but the special adviser of the Minister of Agriculture was not in agreement.

Dr. Opuni and Mr. Agongo face 27 charges, including fraud under false pretenses, willfully causing financial losses to the state, money laundering, bribery and corruption. An official and violation of the law on public procurement.

They both pleaded not guilty and are released on bail of 300,000 GHAC.

The case was adjourned until Tuesday, 4 June for further proceedings.