Opuni-Agongo trial: Prosecution witness denies knowledge of missing letters

Dr Alfred Arthur, a Scientist at the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) claims he is unaware that an investigative committee of CRIG, a division of COCOBOD, report  found out that Oye Hellen Koranteng, a dispatch clerk dispatched a copy of a contentious missing letter to Agricult Ghana Limited. Answering question under cross-examination led by Mr Benson Nutsukpui, lawyer for Mr Seidu Agongo,  the witness was asked, whether he knew the committee set up by Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) to investigate the missing letter also found out that a budget and an invoice for the sum of GH¢21, 482.00 was attached to the dispatched letter, but the witness answered in the negative. Dr Stephen Opuni, the former CEO of COCOBOD and Mr Seidu Agongo, the CEO of Agricult Ghana Limited are facing trial on 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretences, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, corruption by a public officer and contravention of the Public Procurement Act. They have both pleaded not guilty to the charges and are on a GH¢300,000.00 each self-recognisance bail. Mr Nutsukpui asked the witness whether he knew what the committee did to his knowledge, the witness answered that the members of the committee came to the Soil Science Division of CRIG to look through the fertilizer files. “You may not know that the committee found out that a cheque for GH¢21, 482.00 was delivered to Cocoa Health and Extension Division (CHED) by Agricult Ghana Limited,” Mr Nutsukpui asked, but the witness could not confirm that assertion. He further inquired whether the witness knew that the committee found on the computers of the account section of CRIG copies of invoice number PRIN4062, which was the invoice attached to the missing letter but the scientist said he was unaware. Mr Nutsukpui suggested to the witness that the Evans Anim Committee found out that the budget and invoice existed on the files of CRIG but the witness said “my Lord l am not aware.” He added that all the documents were found in the custody of CRIG and attached to the report but the witness said he was not privy to that information. The Counsel said the disappearance of the letter under the reference number CRIG 39/14 Vol. 196448 was because, the heading on the letter at CRIG also described the product as Liquid Lithovit Fertilizer but the witness said he has not seen such letter. [caption id="attachment_108697" align="alignleft" width="295"] Dr. Alfred Arthur[/caption] Mr Nutsukpui said the erasers at CRIG were meant to cover the descriptions of the product as Lithovit Liquid Fertilizer, the witness said he cannot confirm such information. Excerpts of the cross-examination

1. I am putting it to you that the Evans Anim ad hoc Committee found as a fact that those documents, the budget and invoice existed on the files of CRIGA. My lord, I’m not awareQ. And, indeed, they attached copies of those documents to their report, I am suggesting that to you.
2. My Lord as Ii have stated

Judge: Please answer the question A. I’m not aware my lord Q. I am further putting it to you that those documents; that is the invoice, the receipt and the budget were all found in the custody of CRIG and attached to the report which was issued by the Evans Anim committee. A. My lord, I’m not privy to this information Q. I am further putting it to you that all those documents and the report were given to the counsel of COCOBOD, Mr Johannes Vegba by the director of CRIG to file in this honourable court on his behalf A. Ii wouldn’t know Q. I am putting it to you that as far back as 2014, CRIG on their own described the product as Lithovit Liquid fertiliser A. That’s not true my lord Q. I am further putting it to you that the disappearance of the letter under reference CRIG39/14Vol.19/6448 is because the heading quoted the product as Lithovit Liquid fertiliser A. My lord, I’ve not seen such a letter Q. On the fertiliser file at CRIG, the erasures were meant to cover the description of the product as Lithovit Liquid fertiliser. A. My lord, I have not seen such a document The trial judge Justice Clemence Honyenugah, an Appeal Court Judge, sitting as an additional High Court Judge then adjourned the trial to Monday, February 18, for continuation. Source: 3news.com | GNA | Ghana]]>