Security at the court premises in Accra has been tightened following the commencement of the trial of former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Stephen Opuni.

Dr Opuni, businessman Seidu Agongo and AgriCult Ghana Company Limited, are facing 27 charges of willfully causing financial loss of GHS217million to the state, through three separate fertiliser supply contracts between 2014 and 2016.

The contracts were GHS43.1million (2013/2014 cocoa farming season), GHS75.3million (2014/2015 cocoa farming season) and GHS98.9million (2015/2016 cocoa farming season) totalling GHS217million through sole-sourcing, the state claimed, adding that procurement procedures for sole-sourcing were not followed.

According to the charges, the consignments of Lithovit Foliar were produced locally, contrary to an agreement between COCOBOD and AgriCult Ghana Company Limited that it be sourced from Germany.

The case is expected to be called today, Monday, 26 March 2018 at 12PM, Accra FM’s court reporter, Ama Brako Ampofo who is monitoring proceedings, reports.

Ama further reported that “security has been tightened at the court premises to forestall any upheaval by persons believed to be supporters of the accused persons. A lot of people are gathered here to observe the commencement of the trial.”