A former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni, has stated that his nearly eight-year trial at the Accra High Court was a political witch-hunt.
He pointed to the decision of Chief Justice Gertrude Araba Torkonoo to change and transfer judges hearing his case through text messages as evidence of political interference.
Dr. Opuni made these remarks while addressing journalists after a Thanksgiving Service at the Babianeha Presbyterian Church of Ghana in the Dormaa Municipality in the Bono Region on Sunday.
The trial, which began in March 2017, initially involved 27 charges, including abetment of crime, defrauding by false pretense, and willfully causing financial loss to the state.
While Dr. Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo were earlier cleared of money laundering charges, both men maintained their innocence throughout the trial.
In January 2025, the Attorney General, Dr. Dominic Ayine, withdrew all charges against Dr. Opuni, Mr. Agongo, and Agricult Ghana Limited.
Reflecting on his experience, Dr. Opuni described the trial as a divine test of his faith in God, adding that the ordeal brought him closer to his faith. “I was not frustrated or worried because I knew in my heart that I did nothing wrong for the state to put me in jail,” he said.
He expressed gratitude to God for answering his prayers after eight years, deeming it necessary to thank God publicly.
Dr. Opuni recounted several operations by the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) in his private residence in Accra, Kumasi, and Babianeha, but no criminal evidence was found. Despite this, the government continued to pursue the case in court for several months.
“I knew from the beginning that the government had no case,” Dr. Opuni said, adding that he was not a legal practitioner but understood that the case was unfounded.
He expressed appreciation to his lawyer, Samuel Cudjoe, and his family, especially his wife, for their unwavering support throughout the challenging period.
Dr. Opuni also reflected on his tenure at COCOBOD, expressing confidence that his leadership transformed the cocoa industry and the board. He compared his achievements to the outcomes under the previous Akufo-Addo-led government, emphasizing the positive changes during his tenure.
Source | Adomonline
