Former Chief Executive Officer of COCOBOD, Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni, has publicly expressed his relief and frustration after all charges against him were withdrawn in a long-running corruption case.
Speaking after a Thanksgiving service on Sunday, April 20, 2025, Dr. Opuni accused the Akufo-Addo administration of unjustly persecuting him, calling the legal proceedings politically motivated.
He described the eight years of prosecution as a personal trial by fire, stating that he always maintained his innocence despite the lengthy legal battle.
“I was prosecuted for eight years and I kept praying. I knew that I was innocent,” he remarked, emphasizing that he had been unfairly targeted by his political enemies.
The case, which began in 2018, centered around allegations involving the procurement of substandard Lithovit Liquid Fertilizer. Dr. Opuni and businessman Seidu Agongo had been facing 27 charges, including corruption, defrauding by false pretenses, and causing financial loss to the state.
However, on January 28, 2025, the Attorney-General, Dominic Ayine, instructed the withdrawal of all charges against them, signaling the end of the protracted case.
The trial had been a significant part of Ghana’s legal and political landscape, drawing attention for its high-profile nature and delays that many saw as politically charged.
Despite the prosecution’s claims, both Dr. Opuni and Mr. Agongo maintained their innocence throughout the case.
In his comments following the withdrawal of charges, Dr. Opuni maintained that the trial had been an attempt to damage his reputation, rather than a genuine pursuit of justice.
Although no reason was given for the withdrawal of the charges, the decision to drop the case marked a significant development in the saga.
