Opuni and Agongo plead "not guilty" to charges
Former Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) CEO, Stephen Kwabena Opuni and a businessman, Seidu Agongo, have pleaded not guilty to causing GhȻ271.3 million financial loss to the state.
The two pleaded not guilty to a total of 27 charges ranging from willfully causing financial loss to the state, abetment of fraud, defrauding by false pretense, among other charges
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Opuni and Agongo, the Managing Director of agro firm, Agricult Ghana Limited, were dragged to court by the Attorney- General, for allegedly acting illegally in a fertilizer deal that cost COCOBOD the said amount.
The said fertilizer according to the AG, was meant for Cocoa farmers.
Related: Massive security deployment at Opuni trial
Monday’s hearing attracted scores of National Democratic Congress (NDC) supporters and many party bigwigs and former government officials.
They include former Chief of Staff; Mr Julius Debrah, former Attorney- General; Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong, former Deputy Information Minister, Mr Felix Kwakye -Ofosu, former Deputy Minister of Transport; Ms Joyce Bawa Mogtari, former Fisheries Minister; Ms Sherry Ayitey.
Others are the former Minister of Tourism; Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare, National Organiser of the NDC, Mr Kofi Adams, the General Secretary of the NDC, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketiah ,among other officials.
Read also: NDC gurus storm Opuni trial
The trial is being held at the Accra High Court, presided over by Mr Justice C.J Honyenuga, a Justice of the Court of Appeal with additional responsibility as a High Court judge.
Prosecution is being done by a team of 10 state lawyers led by the Attorney-General, Ms Gloria Akuffo.
Opuni is being represented by Mr Samuel Cudjoe, while Agongo is being represented by Mr Benson Nutsukpui, the President of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA).