[ad_1]
Dr. Yaw Adu-Ampomah, the third prosecution witness in the trial involving Dr. Stephen Opuni, former COCOBOD CEO, and two others, has told an Accra High Court that he presented his testimony in court as a civic responsibility.
“My Lord, my evidence in court is tainted that I am Ghanaian and it is my sole responsibility as a patriotic citizen,” he said.
Dr. Adu-Ampomah was answering questions in a new cross-examination of Mr. Nutifafa Nutsukpui, lawyer for Seidu Agongo, CEO of Agricult Ghana Limited, the second defendant in the trial in Accra on Wednesday.
He said that “as a Ghanaian and as part of his civic responsibility, he needs to speak out against the evils of society.”
Mr. Nutsukpui pointed out to the witness that the evidence he gave in court was completely influenced by his political persuasion, but the witness disagreed.
When asked if he was a card-carrying member of the New Patriotic Party, the witness answered in the negative.
The lawyer asked the witness if COCOBOD pre-financed the contracts for the supply of fertilizers with Agricult Ghana Limited and the witness replied that it did not, explaining that he was not aware.
Mr. Nutsukpui pointed out to the witness that according to the contract, Agricult Ghana Limited would have to deliver the products before COCOBOD reimburses Agricult and Dr. Adu-Ampomah agreed.
He again pointed to Dr. Adu-Ampomah, if he knew that Agricult delivered the fertilizers to COCOBOD and the witness said he was aware.
“COCOBOD distributed the fertilizers to the cocoa tree,” said the lawyer and the witness agreed.
When asked if COCOBOD has any pending fertilizers with Agricult Ghana Limited for which the Board had paid and the witness answered negatively.
The lawyer asked the witness if he knew of any role played by Agricult in the trial process regarding the fertilizer for which they were in court, the witness answered negatively.
“Do you know that the Ghana Cocoa Research Institute (CRIG) raised a bill demanding the sum of GH ¢ 1,025 from Agricult as the cost of the lithovit liquid fertilizer certification renewal for the year 2015,” asked Mr. Nutsukpui, but the witness said he would not know.
The lawyer also asked the witness if he knew that CRIG received the payment for said amount and issued a receipt, but the witness said he did not know but that it was possible.
He asked the witness, if he knew that CRIG wrote a letter dated July 7, 2017 inviting Agricult Ghana Limited to pay a sum of GH ¢ 3,000 for the renewal of the certificate for the year 2018 regarding the lithovit liquid fertilizer, the witness He said he was not aware, but that it might be possible.
Dr. Opuni and Mr. Seidu Agongo face 27 counts, which include defrauding under false pretenses, deliberately causing financial losses to the state, money laundering, corruption by a public official, and violation of the Public Procurement Law.
Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges and are subject to a self-recognition bond of ¢ 300,000.00 GH each.
Therefore, the defense has completed its cross-examination of the third prosecution witness. The Prosecutor’s Office will present its next witness on the next postponement date.
The case was postponed until October 8, 2020.
— GNA
