By Morkporkpor Anku
Accra, Feb. 5, GNA- After years of a protracted legal battle that spanned the High Court, Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court, the trial involving Dr. Stephen Opuni and Alhaji Seidu Agongo has concluded.
“This is triumph for truth in a generation,” Alhaji Agongo said after walking out of the courtroom, wearing a cautious smile.
On January 28, 2025, the Attorney-General withdrew all charges against Dr Opuni and Alhaji Agongo.
Ms. Enam Loh Mensah, State Attorney, told the Court, presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh, that the Attorney-General had instructed that the charges against the Opuni and Agongo be withdrawn.
She said the State had, therefore, filed a notice of withdrawal pursuant to the instructions.
Subsequently, the court acquitted and discharged the duo.
Dr Opuni and Mr. Agongo were facing 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretences, willfully causing financial loss to the State, money laundering, and corruption by a public officer in contravention of the Public Procurement Act.
They had both pleaded not guilty to the charges and were on a GH¢300,000.00 self-recognizance bail each
“It is a sigh of relief in great magnitude that you cannot quantify. For almost eight years, I spent a major part of my Monday to Thursday in court. From tomorrow, that is history. I can only say Thank you Allah,” Agongo said.
He described their ordeal as a nightmare, stating that his name, once associated with business success and philanthropy, was tarnished.
Alhaji Agongo stated that his reputation was destroyed, and his life became a constant battle.
He described the accusations of fraud, deception, money laundering, and financial impropriety as being relentlessly used against him, feeling less like a pursuit of justice and more like a personal vendetta.
Alhaji Agongo claimed that the courtroom had turned into a stage for injustice, while the media served as a platform for the calculated dismantling of his character and business reputation.
He said is only “crime” was supplying lithovit liquid fertiliser, a highly effective, yield-boosting agrochemical that transformed the lives of countless cocoa farmers to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD).
Alhaji Agongo recounted how numerous farmers testified in his defense, passionately sharing how the fertilizer had transformed their lives and helped them achieve dreams they once thought impossible.
“Some built their first homes; others purchased cars or sent their children to better schools, all thanks to the increased yields from their cocoa farms. These farmers, who are the true beneficiaries, described lithovit as a “lifesaver” and clamored for more,” he added.
Alhaji Agongo explained that despite the exculpatory testimonies from farmers, they were ignored as his adversaries relentlessly pursued their goal to bring him down at any cost.
He said that the attacks went beyond the courtroom, highlighting how his bank, Heritage Bank Limited—a symbol of his hard work and entrepreneurial spirit— collapsed.
Alhaji Agongo said the “persecution” did not end there; his assets were frozen, preventing him from accessing funds to sustain his business ventures.
He also revealed that his passport was seized, stripping him of his fundamental right to freedom of movement and cutting him off from vital international business opportunities.
Alhaji Agongo alleged that government-sponsored propaganda flooded the airwaves, tarnishing his reputation and driving away potential partners and clients, with the intent to isolate and destroy him “piece by piece.”
He stated that despite the mounting pressure, he refused to break, fighting tirelessly to clear his name and defend his integrity.
In the face of relentless persecution, he remained steadfast, with his faith unshaken.
Alhaji Agongo alleged that the legal and judicial maneuvers seemed part of a carefully orchestrated plan to ensure his downfall.
However, he asserted that despite these efforts, the truth could not be extinguished.
He noted that while many might have crumbled under such immense pressure, he chose to rise above it, remaining a source of hope and support for countless others.
GNA