Fertilizer purchased is liquid not powder -Witness

The first Prosecution witness in the ongoing criminal trial involving Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo and Agricut Company Limited has admitted during further cross-examination that the Fertilizer which was tested and purchased is a liquid fertilizer.

This comes after the Counsel for Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni, Samuel Cudjoe, got the witness to admit when he read his own statement.

“I was a member of the team, the Director of CHED, Dr Baah affirmed that Lithovit as a liquid fertilizer induced prolific flowering on cocoa trees which could result in high yields."

The Executive Director of the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG) Dr Franklin Manu Amoah, in August 2018, who went on his second retirement admitted after he was made to read page 3 of his caution statement to the Economic and Organized Crime Office after he was arrested and cautioned by the EOCO.

Dr Franklin Manu Amoah during his evidence in chief earlier on indicated that what the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana tested was a powdery substance.

It should be noted that the first certificate issued on the Lithovit foliar fertilizer was signed by the prosecution witness.

The witness further indicated that you cannot use one factor to determine yield which is contrary to the claims made by the Attorney General, Gloria Afua Akuffo when she read the facts in support of the charges.

The for Counsel for the Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni also inquired from the witness the meaning of "affirm" which appeared in his caution statement to the Economic and Organized Crime Office, he said it means "confirm."

This admission under cross examination today clearly fortifies the defence put forward by the accused.

Dr Opuni and Seidu Agogo, Chief Executive Officer of Agricult Ghana Limited are facing 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretence, wilfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, corruption by public officer and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.

They have pleaded not guilty and have been granted a GH¢300,000.00 each self-recognisance bail by the court.