Agongo won COCOBOD contract to supply liquid-fertilizer after submitting powdery product for testing – Witness
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During a four-hour gruelling session, Dr. Yaw Adu- Ampofo leader of the transition team which monitored activities of COCOBOD told the Criminal Court today, May 14 that his team discovered that a certificate was issued, requesting for the supply of 700,000 litters of liquid lithorvert fertilizer costing $19,250,000 though the product submitted for testing by Agricult limited which belonged to Seidu Agongo was described in the material safety data sheet as powdery.
Mr Adu-Ampofo who was the then Deputy Chief Executive in charge of agronomy, quality and control at COCOBOD added, in May 10 2013, the fertilizer was delivered in a parcel accompanied with a material safety data sheet which stated that the fertilizer was powdery in nature with a letter from the supplier saying it should be tested by CRIG
The witness who appeared before court explained that his team realized some of the chemicals by various suppliers have not undergone full cycle of testing which lasts for a period of two years but are in the process of being procured
To that effect companies who bid for the contract were invited for discussions and it was realized that Seidu Agongo was Managing Director for three of them
After testing, the outcome of the ‘supposed liquid fertilizer product’ according to Dr Adu-Ampofo turned out to be a new made in Germany top quality nano technological fine powder created by Tribody mamic activation and micronisation.
Dr Adu-Ampofo however mentioned that a report by Cocoa Research Institute and CRIG disclosed that three scientists discovered the fertilizer (a greenish powder) had been tested on a two weeks old seedling for ‘just’ three months instead of a grown cocoa plant
He told the court that the fertilizer was approved based on a test conducted on a young cocoa seedling instead of a matured cocoa plant.
The Criminal Court One Division of the Accra High Court presided over by Justice C. J Hornyenuga has adjourned hearing of the case involving former CEO of COCOBOD, Dr Stephen Opuni, and his colleague Seidu Agongo to May 20.
