Court Of Appeal Sets July 3 To Rule On Opuni’s COCOBOD Fresh Trial

The Court of Appeal has set July 3, 2023, to rule on an appeal by the Attorney-General against the former COCOBOD boss Stephen Opuni and two others.

The appeal before a three-member panel, chaired by Justice Philip Bright Mensah, challenges the decision of an Accra High Court to start the COCOBOD trial afresh.

Prior to setting the date, the court dismissed a request from Opuni’s legal team, along with businessman Seidu Agongo, for the court to cease proceedings until they had full access to the relevant case documents.

However, the court ruled that the High Court’s ruling, counsel’s submissions, and the charge sheet were sufficient for determining the appeal.

The Attorney-General’s Department, led by Godfred Yeboah Dame, was subsequently directed to file their written submissions by Friday, June 16.

The defence lawyers were also given a week after June 16 to file their written submissions.

The Court of Appeal’s judgment is expected to clarify whether the trial will start afresh or if the evidence already presented will be adopted.

Dr. Stephen Opuni, ex-CEO of the Ghana Cocoa Board; businessman Seidu Agongo and his company Agricult Ghana Limited; 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.

The trial has seen several challenges and allegations of unfairness, prompting the change in judges.

It will be recalled that the new judge, Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah, ruled that the case should begin afresh to address the concerns raised by the accused persons regarding the fairness of the proceedings.

The Attorney-General filed an appeal against this ruling, arguing that the trial judge had misdirected himself in the application of the principles regarding the adoption of evidence.

The A-G’s appeal seeks to set aside the ruling and allow the adoption of evidence already presented.