Report shows Opunis trial and possible prison sentence linked to his ‘vengeful mafia’ of Tobinco

Had Dr. Stephen Kwabena not touched Opuni Tobinco, he would have remained on the Food and Drugs Board and not become Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) and consequently would not be facing trial, a report has revealed.

Dr. Tobin, CEO of Tobinco, disclosed that former President Mahama had spoken to him about wanting to remove Dr. Opuni from the FDA and deploy him elsewhere because of the problems that Tobinco and the FDA led by Opuni were having.

Within three days, Dr. Opuni was transferred to COCOBOD, where he served as CEO for four years. He is currently on trial for his work at COCOBOD.

He is accused of several financial crimes that he is said to have committed during his term in office.

Dr. Opuni, Seidu Agongo and Agricult Ghana Limited are on trial on 27 counts: causing financial damage to the state, fraud by false pretense, conspiracy to commit a crime, aiding and abetting a crime, money laundering, corruption by public officials and contravention of the PPA Act.

Together, they are accused of causing financial loss of over GH¢217 million to the state through the sale and purchase of the controversial liquid fertilizer Lithovit, which according to the prosecution was never tested.

They have been on trial before a High Court in Accra since March 2018. They are accused of 27 criminal offenses.