By Beatrice Oppon
The Accra High Court has ordered former CEO of COCOBOD Stephen Opuni to produce his next witness on Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Dr Opuni and two others Seidu Agongo and Agricult Ghana Limited have been dragged before the court for causing financial loss to the state.
Second witness for Dr Opuni, Samuel Torbi who is a cocoa farmer at Assin Fosu gave his Evidence in Chief last Monday. He was expected to be cross-examined last Wednesday by the prosecution led by Chief State Attorney Evelyn Keelson but was reported sick and issued an excused duty.
Lawyer for Dr Opuni Samuel Cudjoe informed the Court that the witness was admitted last Tuesday, May 17, 2022, at the Medical Ward of the Greater Accra Regional Hospital and discharged last Friday, Mat 20,2022.
Mr Cudjoe said the witness has since been given a one week excuse duty from May 20. The lawyer said he has been unable to secure the medical report of the witness to present to the court due to issues of confidentiality.
The presiding judge Justice Honyenuga having listened to the lawyer was of the opinion that to enable the court to effectively deal with the case and to avoid further delay it would be prudent that the third defence witness is produced at the next adjourned date pending the recovery and recall of the second witness for the cross examination.
He however reminded that the court has the power to expunge the evidence of the second witness at the appropriate time. The prosecution submitted that to enable the court to effectively manage the conduct of the case it would have been necessary for the court to order the medical officer who attended to the second witness and subsequently issued the excuse duty to appear before it to give further and better particulars as to the ailment.
This was however refused by Justice Honyenuga who held that it will only occasion more delaying of the trial which has already lasted four years.
