General News of Thursday, 30 January 2025

Source: www.ghanaweb.com

'Allow the court process to work' - NPP member takes on President Mahama over Opuni's dropped charges

John Mahama and Stephen Opuni John Mahama and Stephen Opuni

Dr. Kesine Owusu, a communication member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has stated that President John Dramani Mahama is no different from former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, who was accused of clearing corrupt individuals in his government.

According to him, the president's assumption into office a few days ago has shown that he allows devious people to go scot-free in terms of corruption.

Speaking in an interview on Oyerepa TV on January 29, 2025, relating to the dropping of charges by the state in relation to the issues of Former Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni, and businessman Seidu Agongo over criminal charges, he asserted that the president is not allowing the law to function.

“Whatever it is, there are issues in court. The NDC Attorney General has said that he won't continue the case, but the good thing is that another government can continue the case because no court has punished anybody.

“So now everybody has seen that the clearing agent that the NDC members were complaining about, Nana Addo, is no different. Even with Akufo-Addo, when people accused him, he made sure the institution was exhausted before he talked. But if this is what the NDC will do, we wish them well.

“Where there is a need for people to pursue in court, I’m sure they will do. But for me, I think this issue that they have swept under the carpet will go against Mahama.
He should allow the court to work,” he said.

Former Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni, businessman Seidu Agongo, and Agricult Ghana Limited have been acquitted and discharged of all criminal charges in the COCOBOD case by the High Court.

This was after the State Prosecutors, upon the instructions of the Attorney General, filed a notice of withdrawal on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, to drop all charges against them.

The former Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni, and businessman Seidu Agongo have been in court since March 25, 2018.

The presiding judge, Justice Aboagye Tandoh, upon hearing the prosecution, acquitted and discharged them.

“Accordingly, the accused persons – Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni, Seidu Agongo, and Agricult Ghana Limited – are all acquitted and discharged of all charges leveled against each one of them,” Justice Aboagye Tandoh, a Justice of the Court of Appeal who is presiding over the case as an additional High Court judge, delivered.

While relying on Section 59 of Act 30 of the Criminal Procedure and Other Offences Act, particularly (iii), the court said, “After the case for the prosecution has been closed, the accused shall be acquitted in respect of the offense or offenses.”

On Tuesday, January 28, Enam Loh-Mensah, a State Attorney, told the High Court that the Attorney General has instructed that the charges be withdrawn and the same has been filed.

“My lord, respectfully, the Attorney General has instructed that the charges against the accused persons in this matter be withdrawn. Pursuant to this, the republic has filed a notice of withdrawal,” Enam Loh-Mensah, a State Attorney, informed the court on Tuesday (January 28, 2025).

Samuel Codjoe, Counsel for Dr. Opuni, and Benson Nutsukpui, counsel for Seidu Agongo, both confirmed to the court presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh that they had been served with the notice of withdrawal.



AM/KA

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