Former COCOBOD Chief Executive, Dr. Stephen Opuni is expected to appear in court today [Wednesday] as the state calls its first prosecution witness.
Dr. Opuni and two others; a businessman Seidu Agongo and Agricult Limited are being tried by the state for causing financial loss to the state and 26 other offences.
All three have pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
A massive crowd of National Democratic Congress (NDC) faithful thronged the court premises on March 26 when Dr Opuni debuted in court. The supporters told Joy News that some NDC executives organized buses for them to come.
Speaking to the AM Show Wednesday, however, Komla Adom reported that the court was serene and the mammoth crowd experienced on the first day of the case was absent.
It is expected that the Attorney-General, Gloria Akuffo will formally open the state’s case today. “She will be expected to call the state’s first witness,” Joy News court correspondent, Joseph Ackah Blay said.
“It is, however, unclear who the state will be calling as the first witness, it could be someone from COCBOD or perhaps someone from the Public Procurement Authority,” he added.
Another salient matter the court will be expected to decide on today [Wednesday] is the demand by Dr. Opuni’s lawyers for all documents that the prosecution intends to rely on.
They want all witness statements, all witness statements of prosecution witnesses who will be called at trial and that of those who will not be called, all letters written by COCOBOD through Dr Opuni to the Public Procurement Authority and so on.
Attorney General, Gloria Akuffo has told Joy News she is ready to make all the documents available to Dr Opuni and his defence team.
“We are going to court. We are prepared to give them everything. We have nothing to hide especially when we, after all, we believe in the right of the individual to defend himself,” she said.
The case is expected to travel for months and the accused persons face up to 25 years imprisonment if they are found guilty of the charges.
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