NDC bigwigs abandon Opuni in court?

The embattled former CEO of COCOBOD, Dr Stephen Opuni’s appearance in court today, Wednesday, saw few leading figures of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) coming to court to support him, a development that has led to some speculating that the party might have abandoned him.

The unimpressive number of party high ups who attended court today namely, Yaw Boateng Gyan, Sam George and young politician Sammy Gyamfi, was a marked difference from what was witnessed on the first day Dr. Opuni appeared in court barely a fortnight ago.

On that occasion, former government officials who made their way to court included: Former Chief of Staff; Mr Julius Debrah, former Attorney- General; Mrs Marietta Brew Appiah-Opong, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia aka General Mosquito; General Secretary of NDC, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah; former Petroleum Minister, Mr Kojo Bonsu; former KMA boss, former Deputy Information Minister; Mr Felix Kwakye-Ofosu.

The rest were former Deputy Minister of Transport; Ms Joyce Bawa Mogtari and former Fisheries Minister; Ms Sherry Ayittey.Minister of Tourism; Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu Agyare, National Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Mr Kofi Adams among other officials.

It’s unclear why an overwhelming majority of former government officials couldn’t make it to court this time around.

Also unlike Dr Opuni’s first day in court where loads of party supporters were bused to the court premises, Wednesday’s sitting didn’t witness any such massive crowd.

Dr Opuni together with a businessman, Seidu Agongo, owner of Zeera Group of companies are facing 27 charges of willfully causing financial loss to the state to the tune of GH¢217million in three separate contracts for the supply of fertilisers from Germany.

They’ve been granted self recognizance bail in the sum of GHc300, 000 each.

Dr Opuni and Mr Agongo, the Managing Director of Agricult on their first appearance in court on Monday, March 26, 2018, pleaded not guilty to all 27 charges.

In court on Wednesday, Attorney General’s Department launched a fight against a motion by Defense Lawyers in the Opuni vrs State case demanding to be furnished with all relevant documents based on which the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of COCOBOD, Dr. Stephen Opuni is being prosecuted.

According to a Deputy AG, Godfred Dame the Defense was just entitled to relevant evidence instead of all the documents they’d prayed the court to obtain from the prosecution.

That notwithstanding he said the application is not based on any human rights law as referred to by the defense lawyers.