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Dr. Stephen Opuni
Former Executive Director of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni verbally instructed scientists at the Ghana Cocoa Research Institute (CRIG) to reduce the period of testing of chemicals and fertilizers The executive director of CRIG, Dr. Franklin Manu Amoah, who is the first prosecution witness in the trial of Dr. Opuni and the man of Seidu Agongo's business, told the court that the former boss of COCOBOD liked to give verbal instructions since he took office and "would not normally write".
The witness answered questions from Dr. Opuni's lawyer, Samuel Codjoe, who claimed that his client had never given such a directive. if he actually did, he would have written
But the witness who had been on cross-examination for more than three hours told the court that Dr. Opuni had actually given these instructions on more than one
He said that it was usually Dr. Opuni's modus operandi and he knows that what he says (the witness) is the truth and he can not deny that he gave this verbal guideline for the He said that the only reason given by Mr. Opuni for the guideline was that the fertilizers were very expensive and that the reduction of the test period would make the fertilizers easily available and affordable for farmers.
"His modus operandi is like that.He would not normally write.Other scientists were present and this was not only once. he gave these directions, and other scientists who have received these verbal instructions can testify to this, and I explained how he gave me a verbal directive through Mr. Afrifah's recommend for the purchase of Lithovit foliar fertilizer to fly 10,000 hectares of cocoa farms, "said Dr. Amoah at court
. Opuni and the director general of Agricult Ghana Limited, Seidu Agongo, are being sued for fraud under false pretenses, causing financial losses to the state and some 25 other charges on the purchase and supply of fertilizer Lithovit Foliar
. Amoah, who is the first prosecution witness in the trial, told the court in cross-examination that Dr. Opuni, shortly after his appointment as CEO of COCOBOD, had criticized the Fertilizer testing period. and claimed his reduction.
Opuni openly accused CRIG scientists of helping some companies to market their products at exorbitant prices
Letter of Recommendation
Samuel Codjoe's cross-examination of the witness focused on the final report and the CRIG letter of recommendation approving the use of the Lithovit foliar fertilizer on mature cacao trees without any field test.
"I am saying that you, as executive director, must necessarily believe the report of your brilliant scientists before transmitting it to COCOBOD, commit fraud on your employers or guilty of falsifying the scientific report", the lawyer questioned.
But the witness denied the request, saying that he did not generate the report, nor did he generate the letter of recommendation. He said that the report and the letter were generated by brilliant scientists and that he did not doubt their skills.
"I am not a stamp when the report arrived, I interviewed him and more, I did not add anything to the report." The scientists who submitted the report are competent in their report. field and even more the report was subject to approval or not by the COCOBOD and it was on the Lithovit powder fertilizer, "said the witness.
Subsequently, the lawyer accused Dr. Amoah of misleading COCOBOD into believing the contents of the letter of recommendation
"No. My explanation is that the reports sent to COCOBOD are subject to whether or not COCOBOD was approved and there were occasions when these test reports were rejected by COCOBOD, so whatever the report was sent to COCOBOD, the final decision came from COCOBOD. "[19659003] Liquid Lithovit Fertilizer
The witness also testified in court that CRIG at the time he was executive director did not receive any sample or tested Even though defense counsel insisted on the fact that the certificate issued to Agricult Ghana Limited did not indicate whether it was a liquid or powdery fertilizer, the witness stated that the test report issued by CRIG was specific to Lithovit powder.
Below the concessions of the lawyer and the witness
Avocado: What is the name of the fertilizer for which you have signed this certificate?
Witness: Lithovit with the mark R. This mark is very significant containing content badysis as stated in the report. We therefore do not need to write if it is liquid or powdery. It is foliar.
Lawyer: According to the certificate you issued, it is Lithovit foliar fertilizer and nothing else, not liquid or pulverulent.
Witness: The certificate is specific to the test report only and no other foliar fertilizer because the test report states the content badysis and this has been clearly stated.
Document rejected
Meanwhile, the court rejected a document tendering in evidence. The document is a letter signed by the witness in respect of a recommendation for a fertilizer prior to the appointment of Mr. Opuni.
The court's decision follows a prosecution objection led by Yvonne Attakora Obuobisa, Director of Public Prosecutions who stated: that the document was not relevant to the trial because it was not the case. has nothing to do with the test and purchase of Lithovit Foliar Fertilizer for which Dr. Opuni is in court.
The court presided over by Judge Clemence Honyenugh on statutory holidays begins August 1, 2018, adjourned the case to October 8, 2018 for cross-examination to continue.
BY Gibril Abdul Razak
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