A research scientist from the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences at Ghana’s Atomic Energy Commission, Dr. Samuel Bamford, has cast serious doubt on the credibility of the Papafio Quartey report on Lithovit fertiliser, describing it as unreliable and “not worth the paper it was written on.”
Dr. Bamford’s remarks were made during his testimony yesterday as a defense witness in the ongoing trial involving Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni, the former CEO of COCOBOD, and businessman Seidu Agongo.
The case, which has dragged on for over seven years, centers on allegations of financial loss to the state and the distribution of substandard fertiliser to cocoa farmers.
The Papafio Quartey report, authored by a scientist appointed by the state, made adverse findings against Lithovit fertiliser and became a pivotal document in the prosecution led by former Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame.
However, Dr. Bamford questioned the integrity of the report last week, calling its conclusions “questionable.”
When asked by defense counsel Samuel Codjoe to rate the report, Dr. Bamford gave it a scathing score of 1 out of 10, further undermining its credibility in the eyes of the court.
The trial, presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh, has seen several twists and turns since it began in March 2018. Initially overseen by Justice Clement Jackson Honyenugah, the case was reassigned to Justice Gyimah Boadi following Justice Honyenugah’s retirement.
Justice Boadi’s attempt to conduct a fresh trial was challenged by Attorney-General Dame, leading to a ruling by a three-member appellate panel that overturned Boadi’s decision.
The case was then reassigned to Justice Aboagye Tandoh.
Dr. Opuni and Mr. Agongo face 27 charges, including causing financial loss of GH¢271.3 million to the state and distributing substandard fertiliser to cocoa farmers.
The prosecution alleges that Mr. Agongo used fraudulent means to sell the fertiliser to COCOBOD and that Dr. Opuni facilitated the process by bypassing mandatory testing and certification procedures. Both men have denied all charges and are currently on bail.
The case has been adjourned to January 28 for continuation.
