Businessman Seidu Agongo has expressed relief after the Attorney-General withdrew all charges against him and Dr Stephen Opuni, former Chief Executive Officer of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
In an interview with Channel One TV, Seidu Agongo maintained that he had met all legal requirements in the procurement process of fertilizers for COCOBOD and, therefore, should not have been held accountable by the state.
He welcomed the Attorney-General’s decision, describing it as the “right course of action,” and said he had always been confident that the outcome would be positive.
Seidu Agongo and Dr Opuni had faced 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretenses, willfully causing financial loss to the state, money laundering, and corruption by a public officer.
The trial, which began in 2018, centered on allegations of procuring substandard fertilizers for COCOBOD, allegedly resulting in financial losses to the state.
On January 28, Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine, formally withdrew all charges against Seidu Agongo and Dr Opuni.
State Attorney Enam Loh Mensah informed the court that the Attorney-General had instructed the withdrawal of all charges, leading to the filing of a formal notice.
Meanwhile, investigative journalist Manasseh Azure Awuni has questioned the basis for the government’s decision to discontinue court cases against officials and associates of the previous Mahama administration.
In an article titled “Chief clearing agent”, the Ghanaian journalist noted that “Operation Recover All Loot (ORAL) cannot succeed when its implementers are engaged in Operation Clear All Looters (OCAL).”
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