Dr. Stephen Opuni, former CEO of COCOBOD[/caption] Former Chief Executive Officer of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni has been dragged to the Accra High Court for allegedly causing financial loss to the state. He is reported facing 27 charges and the case is due for hearing on Friday March 23. In February 2017, the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) froze the assets of Dr Opuni as part of investigations into his tenure as CEO of COCOBOD. A businessman Seidu Agongo, who was joined in the suit, 3news.com gathered is also being accused of abetment of crime and defrauding by false pretence as he allegedly sold “misbranded” and “adulterated” fertilizer to Ghana Cocoa Board between 2014 and 2015. The two are being accused of abetment of crime, thus defrauding by false pretence contrary to sections 20(1) and 131 (1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) under the first count. “Stephen Kwabena Opuni between January 2014 and November 2014 in Accra in the Greater-Accra Region abetted Seidu Agongo and Agricult Ghana Ltd. to defraud COCOBOD of the sum of GH¢43,120,000,” the suit explained. The two were also charged for defrauding by false pretence contrary to section 131(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 (Act 29) as the fourth count. “1) Seidu Agongo 2) Agricult Ghana Ltd between November 2014 and November 2015 in Accra in the Greater-Accra Region with intent to defraud Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) obtained the consent of COCOBOD to part with the sum of GHc75,289,314.72 by representing to COCOBOD that you would supply Lithovit Foliar Fertilizer from Germany for application by farmers on cocoa for the 2014/2015 cocoa season, a representation which you knew to be false at the time of making it.” Click and read the 27 charges Source: 3news.com | Ghana]]>
