A retired Kade District Extension Coordinator for the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Francis Cyril Attu Asiedu, has strongly refuted prosecution claims that Lithovit fertilizer is ineffective and akin to water.
These allegations were made by Dr. Yaw Adu-Ampomah, the third prosecution witness, who suggested that farmers viewed Lithovit as ineffective, even going so far as to consume it.
The trial, presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh, has been adjourned until October 24, 2024.
As the eighth defense witness for Seidu Agongo, owner of Agricult Ghana Limited and supplier of Lithovit, Mr. Asiedu provided a compelling counterargument.
He emphasized that during his tenure, Lithovit was widely recognized and appreciated by farmers for significantly enhancing cocoa yields, with no reports of adverse effects.
Mr. Asiedu recalled educational sessions with cocoa farmers, where extension officers highlighted the dangers of improper chemical use, referencing issues faced by Akomadan tomato farmers who had suffered health consequences from their practices.
He noted that Lithovit was particularly well-received in the Kade district during the 2014/15 and 2015/16 cocoa seasons.
Demonstrations were held on his own five-acre cocoa farm in Akyem Pramkese, which served as a model for the correct application and benefits of the fertilizer.
Mr. Asiedu maintained that he had received no complaints regarding Lithovit’s effectiveness.
“Farmers not only used Lithovit but actively requested more due to its positive impact on their yields,” he stated, adding, “We received no adverse reports from the field.”
Mr. Asiedu’s testimony is part of a larger case involving 27 charges against former COCOBOD Chief Executive Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni and Seidu Agongo, including defrauding by false pretenses and causing financial loss to the state.