“Mahama won’t be President forever so that is why I am saying we are grooming Dr. Opuni for the future and if that happens he will get the full backing of both Brong Ahafo and Ashanti Region”.

”Dr. Opuni is a Presidential material, we are nurturing him and surely he will accomplish what he was brought on this word to do. Nothing will happen to him”.

”No matter what the NPP will do Dr. Opuni will come out with flying colours because we know what they are doing is nothing but a political persecution. He will come out with flying colours by the grace of God”.

All the above are the words of Yaw Afrifa Yamoah Ponko on Abusua FM with Austine Woode on the Abusua Nkommo, MYNEWSGH.com can report.

Yamoah Ponkoh is a Former Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ejisu/Juaben in the Ashanti Region, under the John Mahama government.

The embattled former Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD Dr Stephen Opuni is standing trial for causing financial loss to the state. He was yesterday granted self-recognizance bail to the tune of GH¢300,000.00 by Accra Land court 11 presided over by Justice C J Honyenuga, Appeals court Judge sitting with additional responsibility as a High Court Judge

The court further directed that Dr. Opuni deposit his passport with the Director of CID and that he should also report to the CID anytime intends leaving the country

The former COCOBOD CEO pleaded not guilty to all the 27 charges preferred against him by the Attorney General.

The case has been adjourned to April 11, 2018.

Dr Opuni was represented by Benson Nutsukpi, the president of the Ghana Bar Association, Nutifafa Nutsukpi, Joel Annor Afari, Emmanuel Kumadey and Jemima Dei whereas the state was represented by Godfred Yeboah-Dame, Deputy AG, Joseph Dindion Kpemba Deputy AG, Evelyn Keelson, Chief State Attorney, Frances Mollen Ansah, Principal State Attorney, Stella Ohene Appiah, Snr. State Attorney, Sefakor Batse, Snr. State Attorney, Richard Gyembiby, Senior State Attorney and Pinaman Ansah, Snr State Attorney

Background

The Attorney General last week commenced criminal proceedings against the Former CEO and Businessman cum Chief Executive Officer of Zeera Group of Companies, Alhaji Seidu Agongo after filing a suit in an Accra High Court.

The two according to a suit filed on March 14, 2018, face-up 27 counts of willfully causing financial loss through to the state through fraud.

Some of the charges include; money laundering, violation of procurement laws and defrauding by false pretenses.

Other portions of the suit read:” Mr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni between November 2014 and November 2015 in Accra in the Greater Accra Region, abetted Seidu Agongo and Agricult Ghana Limited to defraud Ghana COCOBOD of the sum of Ghc 75, 289, 314.72.”

“Stephen Kwabena Opuni on the 10th of October 2014 in Accra, agreed to permit your conduct as the Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD to be influenced with an amount of Twenty Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (Ghc25,000) from Seidu Agongo”.