Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni — Former CEO of the Ghana Cocoa Board

A former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni’s application to change the judge handling his trial will be decided by the Supreme Court on July 28, this year.

A five-member panel of the apex court presided over by Justice Jones Dotse fixed the date for the ruling yesterday July 13, 2021, after hearing arguments by lawyers for the former COCOBOD boss, and a deputy Attorney –General (A-G), Mr Alfred Tuah-Yeboah.https://googleads.g.doubleclick.net/pagead/ads?gdpr=0&client=ca-pub-1220784161199635&output=html&h=280&slotname=3976749912&adk=3253444420&adf=1531280845&pi=t.ma~as.3976749912&w=336&fwrn=7&lmt=1626263407&psa=1&format=336×280&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.graphic.com.gh%2Fnews%2Fgeneral-news%2Fghana-news-supreme-court-rules-on-opuni-s-application-july-28.html%3Futm_medium%3DSocial%26utm_campaign%3DEchobox%26utm_source%3DFacebook%23Echobox%3D1626261737&flash=0&wgl=1&dt=1626263407138&bpp=8&bdt=3153&idt=-M&shv=r20210708&ptt=9&saldr=aa&abxe=1&cookie=ID%3D8aa82c6848f4ffb9%3AT%3D1626261601%3AS%3DALNI_Mb5ST3kv3xv5PnCAkdKk8CajPhsuQ&prev_fmts=412×343%2C160x600&correlator=2970443524752&frm=20&pv=1&ga_vid=1648609693.1626261603&ga_sid=1626263408&ga_hid=924543448&ga_fc=0&u_tz=0&u_his=1&u_java=0&u_h=892&u_w=412&u_ah=892&u_aw=412&u_cd=24&u_nplug=0&u_nmime=0&adx=38&ady=1073&biw=412&bih=797&scr_x=0&scr_y=525&eid=31060474&oid=3&pvsid=252267423847305&pem=583&ref=http%3A%2F%2Fm.facebook.com%2F&eae=0&fc=896&brdim=0%2C0%2C0%2C0%2C412%2C0%2C412%2C797%2C412%2C797&vis=1&rsz=%7C%7CpoeE%7C&abl=CS&pfx=0&fu=0&bc=31&ifi=3&uci=a!3&fsb=1&xpc=yPBifhKdTD&p=https%3A//www.graphic.com.gh&dtd=681

Other members of the panel were Justices Gabriel Pwamang, Agnes Dordzie, Avril Lovelace -Johnson and Issifu Omoro Tanko Amadu

Dr Opuni, and Seidu Agongo, CEO of Agricult Ghana Limited, an agrochemicals company, are on trial on accusation of causing financial loss of more than GH¢271 million to the state.

Agongo is accused of using fraudulent means to sell substandard fertiliser to the COCOBOD for onward distribution to cocoa farmers, while Dr Opuni is accused of facilitating the act by allowing Agongo’s products not to be tested and certified as required by law.

The two have denied any wrongdoing and have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

Opuni’s case

Dr Opuni’s application at the Supreme Court is his fourth attempt to have Justice Clemence Jackson Honyenuga, a Justice of the Supreme Court, with additional responsibility as a High Court judge, taken off his trial.

He invoked the supervisory jurisdiction of the apex court, seeking an order of certiorari to quas