By: Beatrice Oppon
Deputy Attorney General, Alfred Tuah-Yeboah has informed the High Court in Accra trying a former Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of COCOBOD, Dr. Stephen Opuni and two others that witnesses are unwilling to testify again.
Both the defence and prosecution were expected to file their witness statements as ordered by the Court during the previous hearing but the prosecution led by Mr Tuah-Yeboah said the State is facing challenges filing the said documents because some of the witnesses who testified earlier are reluctant to do so again.
Former CEO of COCOBOD, Dr. Stephen Opuni has been charged together with Businessman Seidu Agongo and Agricult Ghana Limited. They are facing 27 charges, including willfully causing financial loss to the State and contravention of the Public Procurement Act in the purchase of Lithovit liquid fertiliser between 2014 and 2016.
They have all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
The accused persons made their first appearance in Court on March 26, 2018 and the case has travelled on since.
The then Trial Judge, Justice (retired) Clemence Honyenuga, could not bring the case to a close after his six month extension ended in March 2023.
Following his retirement, the case was transferred to Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah who rejected a request by the State to adopt the previous proceedings.
Justice Anokye Gyimah held that it will be unfair for him to adopt the previous proceedings which has been saddled with numerous allegations of bias against the retired judge.
He said to enable the Court to have first hand information on the trial and the demeanor of the witnesses it would have to start afresh.
The Deputy Attorney General requested for a month’s adjournment in order to ensure that the witnesses are ready for the trial.
He said one of the witnesses gave an excuse that he was in the witness boxfor two years during the trial by the previous Judge.
Another witness also said he is currently retired from active service.
The defendants did not oppose to the request by the State to adjourn the case for 30 days.
The Court accordingly adjourned to June 7, 2023 for possible Case Management Conference.
