Opuni, Agongo Freed as the State Withdraws all 27 Charges against them in COCOBOD Case
Opuni, Agongo Freed as the State Withdraws all 27 Charges against them in COCOBOD Case
In a significant twist to a legal case, involving Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni, former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), and businessman Seidu Agongo and the state, the Attorney-General, Dominic Ayine, says he has withdrawn all charges against the two.
The announcement was made today, January 28, 2025, by State Attorney Ms. Enam Loh Mensah at the Accra High Court, presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh.
This marked the end of a legal battle that began in 2018, with the State filing a formal notice of withdrawal.
Dr. Opuni and Mr. Agongo had been facing 27 charges, including defrauding by pretenses, willfully causing financial loss to the state, corruption, and money laundering. The allegations centered on claims that Agricult Ghana Limited, owned by Mr. Agongo, supplied unapproved and substandard fertilizers to COCOBOD, resulting in financial losses and affecting cocoa farmers. Dr. Opuni was accused of facilitating the deal in violation of procurement rules. Both men denied the charges and were granted bail of GH₵300,000 each during the trial.
The case was one of Ghana’s most high-profile legal battles, attracting widespread attention and sparking debate over its political implications. Delays caused by changes in judges and procedural issues in 2023 further added to public frustration, while some legal experts questioned the strength of the evidence against the defendants.
No official reasons were provided for the decision to drop the charges, but this move has brought the case to a sudden end. The development is likely to fuel discussions on judicial reforms, the independence of prosecutors, and the handling of high-profile cases in Ghana.
