Seidu Agongo is said to have been a beneficiary of the supposed fraudulent fertilizer contract worth over GH¢43 million.

Dr. Stephen Opuni and Agongo, alongside Agricult limited’s representatives, have pleaded not guilty to all 27 charges brought against them.

[contextly_sidebar id=”xEFsVSM4pq0LaHRPnIkSDPeyrQT8kwjG”]But the Attorney General’s department is bent on ensuring that the country’s laws deal with the two if they are found culpable by the court.

The case was heard for the first time today, [Monday], March 26, 2018 in an Accra High Court.

Prior to the hearing, top officials of the opposition National Democratic Congress throng the court to support to Dr. Opuni who was appointed under the NDC government.

Dr. Opuni and Agongo were subsequently granted self-cognizance bail to the tune of Ghc300,000 each, with the case adjourned to April 11, 2018.

Facts of the case

While delivering the facts of the case today [Monday], the prosecution told the court that Dr. Opuni misled the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) into awarding a fertilizer contract to Seidu Agongo and his company, Agricult Ghana Limited.

The prosecution further accused Dr. Opuni of also truncating the time period of testing of the fertilizer brought into the country by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG).

The prosecution said Agongo acting on behalf of Agricult submitted to the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG), fertilizer for testing.

According to the prosecution, the testing was supposed to be in two phases – to be applied to seedlings and applied to matured plants for at least two planting seasons before it could be certified for use in Ghana.

But the prosecution said the testing was done for only phase one after which a report recommending its use was given without second phase testing.

The prosecution said the investigations revealed that the former COCOBOD CEO, Dr. Stephen Opuni wrote to CRIG asking that the testing period should be shortened, and also wrote to Seidu Agongo that his fertilizer had been certified for use on cocoa after which a certificate was issued by CRIG.

The prosecution also said despite not applying for renewal of certificate for 2015 and 2016 as required, Agricult upon the instance of Dr. Stephen Opuni had the license renewed without any further testing.

Dr. Opuni, the prosecution said applied to the Public Procurement Authority for approval for Agricult Ghana Limited to be single-sourced to procure 700,000 litres of the fertilizer although conditions for single sourcing had not been satisfied.

According to the prosecution, the letter directing the PPA to single source the project quoted an amount of $19,250,000.

The nature of the product was captured as liquid despite it being powdery form.

The prosecution further told the court that as at the time of writing to PPA, Agricult had not written to COCOBOD stating any price as required by law.

The Public Procurement Authority according to the prosecution, subsequently wrote to the COCOBOD boss requesting for value for money analysis.

Dr. Opuni, according to the prosecution, did not provide this, but rather misrepresented to PPA that in compliance with advice from PPA Board in 2008, Agricult Ghana Limited had been pre-qualified for the supply of the fertilizer although Dr. Opuni knew this was not true.

On that basis, the PPA board approved COCOBOD’s request for single-sourcing of 700,000 litres of the fertilizer.

Dr. Opuni, in 2014, according to the facts of the case, once again wrote to PPA requesting approval to hand Agricult contract to supply liquid form of fertilizer through sole-sourcing even though conditions had not been met, the AG said.

The AG said the PPA approved the request, adding that Dr. Opuni then put in another request which was also approved.

In November 2015, the PPA approved the application for single-source procurement.

The prosecution said three separate agreements were signed and executed by Seidu Agongo’s Agricult Ghana Limited.

The prosecution said investigations had revealed that the contracts were executed when the company did not have a valid certificate to supply the fertilizer.

Whereas the material safety data sheet accompanying the fertilizer that was originally submitted to CRIG for testing described the substance as powdery, Dr. Opuni in requesting quotations for supply and delivery under the three contracts referred to the fertilizer as liquid and quoted in litres, the AG said

The prosecution continued that when the products arrived in Ghana, COCOBOD was required to notify CRIG for testing to ensure it corresponded with what was tested by CRIG. No such testing was carried out.

In 2017, COCOBOD carried out audit into testing of fertilizers after which it referred the matter for criminal investigations. The investigations the AG said, established that the product supplied by Agricult Ghana Ltd was different from the sample submitted to CRIG for testing.

Further tests the prosecution said, revealed variously that the fertilizer supplied had been adulterated and did not meet the specified standard, and that the product could not be used as nutrient on cocoa.

Furthermore, the test indicated that the fertilizer could be harmful to humans and animals as well hazardous to water.

Even though COCOBOD had spent a sum of $55million on the fertilizer, COCOBOD’s records shows there was no significant increase in the cocoa yield during the period, the Ag stated.

The prosecution further said investigations established that Seidu Agongo deposited an amount of 25,000 cedis into the account of Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni to influence the award of contracts.

It has been established that between 2014 and 2016, contrary to law, Seidu Agongo and Agricult manufactured fertilizer in commercial quantities when it had not been registered by the Ministry for food and Agriculture.

–

By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Genesis of Opuni’s woes: The ‘facts’ of the case appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The group was led by the former Cheif of Staff, Julius Debrah and included former Attorney General, Marietta Brew Oppong; former Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Sherry Aryitey; former Minister of Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare; former Deputy Transport Minister, Joyce Bawa-Mogtari and former Deputy Minister of Communications Felix Ofosu Kwakye.

Also among the persons in the court were top executives of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), including the Northern Regional Chairman of the party, Alhaji Azooka.

There was also some chaos in the courtroom due to the numbers at the court. This led security personnel to move everyone out of the court.

Some supporters and friends of Dr. Opuni were not allowed to re-enter the courtroom, leading to some verbal exchanges.

The situation was later calmed when police officers were brought in to escort the supporters out of the building.

Dr. Opuni is facing over 27 charges over some alleged corrupt practices during his term of office.

He is being sued together with one Seidu Agongo, CEO of Zeera Group of Companies and Agricult Ghana Limited, beneficiaries of a supposed fraudulent contract worth forty-three million, one hundred and twenty thousand cedis (Ghc43, 120,000).

The contract in question spanned the period between 2013 and 2016.

–

By: Fred Djabanor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NDC bigwigs throng court ahead of Opuni’s trial [Photos] appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Dr. Opuni and Siedu Agongo, the CEO of Zeera Group of Companies and Agricult Ghana, which also belongs to Seidu Agongo, are cumulatively facing some 27 charges, including abetment of crime and conspiracy to commit crime.

[contextly_sidebar id=”YlbiuSdbE29jlNFFR4zmpJ9Hi6XcinM8″]Some key National Democratic Congress executives and the family of Dr. Opuni have described his prosecution as witch hunting, indicating their preparedness to stand by him.

The Attorney General about two weeks filed the 27 counts including a charge of causing financial loss to the state.

Seidu Agongo, CEO of Zeera Group of Companies and Agricult Ghana Limited, is said to have been a beneficiary of a supposed fraudulent fertilizer contract worth over GH¢43 million.

The National Organizer of the NDC, Kofi Adams, has described the prosecution of the former COCOBOD boss as injustice.

He said the government is only making frantic efforts to cause public disaffection towards the previous NDC administration by smearing former state officials with allegations of corruption and initiating legal action against them for same, although its own officials have been cited for various acts of corruption.

A former NDC Member of Parliament for North Dayi, George Loh, has advised the state to be fair in dealing with Mr. Opuni to ensure he is not persecuted.

“All I’m saying in simple terms is that, when people have done wrong in this country, they must be prosecuted, but not persecuted,” he told the host of The Big Issue, Selorm Adonoo on Saturday.

–

By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Opuni, Seidu Agongo trial begins today appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

COOBOD said the decision was taken because among other things, it found out that the contract did not go through due process.

Seidu Agongo, together with Dr. Stephen Opuni, the immediate past CEO of COCOBOD, were on Wednesday charged by the Attorney General for causing financial loss to the state to a tune of over GHc200 million.

[contextly_sidebar id=”3iNQublx90s3qJkK0ER0L0fhZA1FD0H9″]Speaking to Citi News, the Manager in Charge of the COCOBOD CEO’s office, Fiifi Boafo, said although some of the contracts entered into with other companies by the previous government were honoured, several others too were abrogated.

“It’s an input supply contract that was awarded to the company and the new management reviewed it. There were some problems with those contracts; it is not just limited to this particular one that is barely before court; there are other contracts that had been awarded by the previous administration which have also been abrogated.”

He said the current administration abrogated such contracts because “they were of view that there were some problems leading to the award so management decided to abrogate some of those contracts.”

Fiifi Boafo also noted that, not all the contracts were found to be problematic, adding that those found to be faultless “were honoured” by his boss.

Opuni, Agongo and Agricult sued

The contract at the centre of the lawsuit spanned the period 2013 to 2016.  The defendants are expected to make their first appearance in court on 20th March, 2018, where they will be answering twenty seven charges in all, including abetment of crime, defrauding by false pretence and willfully causing financial loss to the state, among others.

Opuni’s prosecution a case of ‘injustice’ – Kofi Adams

Meanwhile, the National Organizer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Kofi Adams, has described the prosecution of Dr. Opuni’ as a case of “selective injustice.”

According to him, the government is only making frantic efforts to cause public disaffection towards the previous administration.

“What has government done about numerous corruption and acts of corruption reported sometimes by its own members against itself since January 2017, meanwhile they will be spending resources, wasting everybody’s time looking for non-existing evidence in an attempt to paint the previous administration bad. We can’t sit aloof and say that they are prosecuting, when it is clear that they are engaging in selective injustice,” he said in a Citi News interview.

–

By: Godwin Akweiteh Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post Zeera boss’ fertilizer deal already terminated – COCOBOD appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, the government is only making frantic efforts to cause public disaffection towards the previous administration.

[contextly_sidebar id=”JPvCrodn7s5IgvArH9wSvSVdQJd0xk9L”]Speaking in a Citi News interview, Mr. Kofi Adams said the government had failed to prosecute its own officers alleged to have engaged in various forms of corruption.

“What has government done about numerous corruption and acts of corruption reported sometimes by its own members against itself since January 2017, meanwhile they will be spending resources, wasting everybody’s time looking for non-existing evidence in an attempt to paint the previous administration bad. We can’t sit aloof and say that they are prosecuting, when it is clear that they are engaging in selective injustice,” he said.

Dr. Stephen Opuni has been charged with a businessman and CEO of Zeera Group of Companies, Seidu Agongo and Agricult Ghana Limited, with 27 charges including causing financial loss to the State.

The two individuals and a company, according to the state, connived to defraud the state of GHC 43, 120,000.

The Ashanti Regional branch of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) earlier described the prosecution as witch-hunting, adding that it is “appalled by what it calls government’s “exceptional determination to destroy the reputation of a man who has labored to transform the cocoa sector in Ghana.”

It, however said it was optimistic that Dr. Opuni will be exonerated “knowing his meticulousness and genuine commitment to the development of Ghana.”

Opuni’s assets frozen

Mr. Opuni, who was relieved of his post in January 2017, had his assets including his accounts frozen by the Economic and Organised Crimes Office (EOCO) in February that same year.

Although reasons for the seizure were not officially communicated, sources at the time hinted Citi Newsthat EOCO was seeking to investigate the entire period he served as CEO of that critical state agency.

Opuni’s tenure

Mr. Opuni’s tenure was engrossed in several allegations of corruption and mismanagement of the cocoa sector, with his critics accusing him of running down the critical sector; which generates revenue for the country and employs millions of Ghanaians.

As a former CEO of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Dr. Stephen K. Opuni was appointed by former President John Mahama on November 30, 2013, to head the COCOBOD.

He replaced Anthony Fofie, who headed COCOBOD from 2009.

–
By: Jonas Nyabor/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Opuni’s prosecution a case of ‘injustice’ – Kofi Adams appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The party in a statement said it is appalled by what it calls government’s “exceptional determination to destroy the reputation of a man who has labored to transform the cocoa sector in Ghana.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”QCrFBI2BXXQOShXou2KlXPFkJ0GAHFVq”]Stephen Kwabena Opuni has been sued together with one Seidu Agongo, CEO of Zeera Group of Companies and Agricult Ghana Limited, beneficiaries of a supposed fraudulent contract  worth Forty Three Million, One Hundred and Twenty Thousand Cedis (Ghc43, 120,000).

The contract in question spanned the period 2013 to 2016.  The Defendants are expected to make their first appearance in court on 20th March, 2018 where they will be answering twenty seven charges in all, including abetment of crime, defrauding by false pretence and willfully causing financial loss to the state, among others.

The NDC statement, which was signed by the Ashanti Regional Secretary, Raymond Tandoh, said Dr. Opuni was only being used as a scapegoat to justify government’s campaign promise of dealing with former corrupt officials.

They also wondered why government had resorted to witch hunting of former appointees at a time when corruption allegations are rife in various sectors of government.

“We believe Dr. Stephen Opuni is a victim of a growing political culture of hounding predecessors to justify campaign claims of corruption.It is worrying that at a time corruption allegations are rife in every sector of this government, government finds no need to deal with these allegations that are destroying its public integrity and credibility. Sadly, government has resorted to political witch hunting, vindictiveness and mirage pursuits that would not survive any serious test.”

“We are confident Dr. Stephen Opuni will be exonerated eventually knowing his meticulousness and genuine commitment to the development of Ghana.”

The statement from the chapter is below: 

NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS

ASHANTI REGIONAL CHAPTER

PRESS RELEASE

MARCH 14, 2018

We have taken note of the commencement of persecution of Dr. Stephen Opuni and others by government. We have learnt some 27 charges have been preferred against him and would be called on Friday March 23, 2018 at the High Court.

While we are not surprised by this development, we are appalled by the exceptional determination of government to destroy the reputation of a man who has laboured to transform the cocoa sector in Ghana. We believe Dr. Stephen Opuni is a victim of a growing political culture of hounding predecessors to justify campaign claims of corruption.

It is worrying that at a time corruption allegations are rife in every sector of this government, government finds no need to deal with these allegations that are destroying its public integrity and credibility. Sadly, government has resorted to political witch hunting, vindictiveness and mirage pursuits that would not survive any serious test.

We are confident Dr. Stephen Opuni will be exonerated eventually knowing his meticulousness and genuine commitment to the development of Ghana.

The Ashanti Regional Chapter of the NDC hereby declares its unflinching support for Dr. Stephen Opuni and his family in these difficult times of political persecution. We trust in the independence and wisdom of our courts and are hopeful that the outcome of proceedings would be without political interference.

………Signed……..
Raymond Tandoh
(Regional Secretary)

–

By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Opuni will be exonerated – Ashanti NDC accuses gov’t of witch-hunting appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Mr. Boahen Aidoo, who spoke to journalists at a news conference on Wednesday, took on the NDC Minority, because according to him, they have made several baseless and false claims about the new government’s management of the cocoa sector.

He said the free fertilizer programme for instance, was used by the NDC to introduce sub-standard and inefficacious fertilizers into the cocoa Hi-Tech programme.

“Cocoa farmers expressed misgivings and disquiet in accepting the sub-standard fertilizers through the free fertilizer programme introduced by Dr Opuni and the NDC regime. He resolved to wilfully cause financial waste such that farmers would be compelled to accept the fertilizers for free if acceptance through the subsidized sale was not successful.”

“Similarly, the cocoa mass spraying exercise was changed from the normal model of spraying by gangs to the distribution of sub-standard insecticides and fungicides to farmers to spray their own farms. The amount saved from the non-payment of gangs was misapplied through inflated contracts.”

He added that “the rehabilitation programme was abandoned by the NDC regime, and therefore the party cannot claim credit for the cutting of mistletoes. Rather, the NDC decided to pursue the so-called free distribution of inputs and seedlings, which were rather conduits for inflated contracts and the syphoning of funds.”

Subsidized fertilizer

According to him, the NPP Government has now re-introduced the fertilizer subsidy programme with quality and high yielding fertilizers.

“There is an average subsidy of 53% on the fertilizers. The mass spraying gangs are paid promptly and therefore there is no evidence to suggest that spraying gang allowances have been in arrears for four (4) months as alleged by the NDC press conference. The gangs spray evenly across all farms without discrimination.”

NDC minority making noise about non-existent challenges

“It is very interesting to hear the minority talk about challenges with the Cocoa Mass Spraying programme when the government has, in fact, re-launched the programme to make it more viable. All the so-called challenges mentioned are non-existent. Cocoa diseases and pests do not know the political affiliation of cocoa farmers. It will, therefore, be unfortunate for COCOBOD to politicise this important intervention which has played a very important role in increased cocoa production since its introduction in 2001.”

Mr. Boahen Aidoo further revealed that, the NDC administration spearheaded procurement of agrochemical and fertilizer inputs above allocated budgets, and that the budgets for the years were exceeded through padded contracts.

“Worse to mention is the fact that, these agro inputs were rushed through the scientific testing regime by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG). Officials of CRIG who resisted to rush the products through the fast-tracked testing regime were transferred. These inputs were confirmed by farmers across the country to be ineffective and it is not surprising that Ghana’s cocoa production plummeted to the 740,000 and 778,000 tonnes in the 2014/2015 and the 2015/2016 seasons respectively when Dr Opuni was in charge of COCOBOD.”

“In addition to this, the NDC Government had awarded contracts for fertilizer and chemical supplies worth more than GHC500.00 million before leaving office in January 2017. The new management had to renegotiate these contracts, saving the Ghanaian farmer over GHS80.00 million” he noted.

According to Mr. Boahen Aidoo, the penchant to siphon funds through inflated contracts was rampant in the NDC administration through ill-conceived construction contracts in the cocoa sector.

He said such contracts were awarded without proper value for money analysis, bringing into question the motive behind them.

COCOBOD built Bole guest house for Mahama’s comfort – CEO

He named one of such wasteful contracts as the building of an “unnecessary COCOBOD Guest House” in the Northern Regional town of Bole, where then President Mahama hails from.

Joseph Boahen Aidoo accused former President John Mahama of influencing the construction of that guest house for his personal comfort while in office.

Mr. Boahen Aidoo insisted that the erstwhile administration of COCOBOD led by Mr. Stephen Opuni, rather misappropriated millions of cocoa funds on frivolous activities.

He revealed that the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO) is investigating possible cases of financial malfeasance during the tenure of the former COCOBOD CEO, Dr. Stephen Opuni.

Below is the full COCOBOD press statement

RESPONSE TO THE MINORITY PRESS STATEMENT ON COCOA

Good morning Ladies and gentlemen of the media (both electronic and print)
I am grateful to you all for honouring our invitation this morning. I have had the opportunity to interact with some of you since assuming office as Chief Executive at different fora and at my office but I have resisted the temptation of discussing the details of what myself and my team inherited as Managers of Ghana Cocoa Board.

The reason for shying away was just because, we felt it was a responsibility the President Akufo-Addo who appointed me had the trust that I could handle and there was no need trumpeting the problems.

However, I have decided on this day to make you aware of some of the challenges and rot we inherited, since the minority who are supposed to know the true situation of the Board has resorted to peddling of misinformation, half-truth, concocted stories and blatant lies in some instance just to throw dust into the eyes of the public in general and farmers in particular.

We cannot allow such attitude to continue unchecked because it enormously and negatively impacts on the sustainability of the cocoa industry. Cocoa is the backbone of Ghana and we must and we shall protect it.

Our attention has been drawn to a press conference by the NDC minority group, seeking to demand answers to the utilisation of proceeds relating to cocoa production above the 850,000 metric tonnes cocoa production projected for the 2016/2017 crop year. The answers lie in the responses enumerated below:

1.Falling Price of Cocoa between 2016/2017 and 2017/2018

The world market price of cocoa has fallen by an average of 30% from US$2,950.00 per tonne in 2016/2017 to an average of US$2,080.00 per tonne in 2017/2018. The farm gate price, on the other hand, has remained the same at GH¢7,600.00 per tonne despite the fall in the world cocoa price. The producer price of GHC7,600 per tonne paid in 2016/2017 formed 65% of the gross FOB of US$2,950 per tonne. In the 2017/2018 season, the producer price of GHC7,600 forms 83% of the gross FOB of US$2,080.00 per tonne.

The bulk of the excess cocoa above 850,000 metric tonnes was light crop cocoa sold at an average discounted price of US$1,600 (GHC6,720.00) per tonne while the producer price paid to the farmer remained at GHC7,600.00 (US$1,810) per tonne. COCOBOD incurred a loss of US$210.00 (GHC882.00) per tonne. Thus, the cocoa production achieved above the target tonnage of 850,000 metric tonnes in 2016/2017 was subsidised by COCOBOD.

Ladies and Gentlemen, it is instructive to note that farm gate prices in all cocoa producing countries have reduced the producer price to reflect world market trend. In keeping faith with the Ghanaian cocoa farmer to sustain their livelihoods, the NPP Government has maintained the producer price which is 83% of the gross FOB leaving 17% for operations.

2. Stabilization Fund

The Stabilization Fund policy was introduced by the NPP administration led by President Kuffour in the 2004/2005 cocoa season to support farmers from the effects of international price volatility. The Fund had accumulated an amount of GHS206.50 million when the NPP Government took over in January 2017.

The budgeted figure of GHS93.5 million for the 2016/2017 season was not set aside by the NDC Government as a result of misplaced priorities. After the NPP administration took over in January 2017, an amount of GHS103.5 million has been added to the fund bringing the cumulative balance to GHS310 million.

The actual amount required to maintain the producer price in the 2017/2018 season is GHS1.294 billion. The price subsidy to farmers is, therefore, GHS984 million after setting off the stabilisation fund of GHS 310 million available.

Suffice it to say that the amount of the international price fall meant that the Stabilization Fund was far less the amount required to fully absorb the shocks from the fall in price. The government has therefore subsidised the producer price. This goes to buttress the priority Government and the new management of COCOBOD place on the welfare and motivation of the farmer to sustain cocoa production.

3. Cocoa Roads Debts

The new Management of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), upon an assumption of office in February 2017, inherited cocoa roads debt to the tune of GH¢3.52 billion. Total budgetary allocation of GH¢1.64 billion was earmarked for the cocoa roads project between 2014/2015 and 2016/2017 whilst the NDC Government awarded contracts to the tune of GHC5.16 billion. This was the budgeted figure by GHC3.52 billion.

It is worth noting that this reckless commitment above the budgeted amount was questioned by the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) in December 2016 when COCOBOD needed to seek approval to award additional contracts and the Authority inquired about the availability of budgetary provision to enable it to approve the requested contract awards.

The NDC Government at the time justified the road contracts in a response to the PPA. This was the time when the NDC had woefully lost the elections and was trying to acquire retrospective approvals for the contracts already awarded without initial approval. Ladies and gentlemen, I am sure we are all aware of the legal implications of this action taken by the NDC administration. It later turned out that the justification of all the awarded road contracts as having budgetary provision was a palpable lie communicated to the PPA in order to have the contracts receive approval.

The NDC administration, in an attempt to conceal the over-bloated cocoa roads contracts, decided to create a Trust as a separate vehicle to manage the cocoa roads project. The Trust Deed was not registered even though the Trust was said to have been inaugurated at the Ministry of Finance. The inauguration of the Trust was used as a charade to deceive Ghanaians.

It is also instructive to note that many of the cocoa roads for which contracts were awarded have been found to be non-existent or excessively over bloated as revealed by an interim audit conducted by technical consultants. For the first time in the history of Ghana, the NDC had introduced ghost cocoa roads in Ghana.

Under the cocoa roads contracts, four-wheel drive vehicles were purchased by COCOBOD for the contractors as part of the contract price. Currently, over 160 vehicles are the contractors. To indicate the abuse, an eighteen-kilometre road, for example, was allocated six four-wheel vehicles for inspection by the old administration. I have initiated steps to retrieve the vehicles from the contractors.

4. Losses arising from Trading in Options

The numerous actions which led to losses in the era of Dr Opuni and the NDC included trading in options. This led to the loss of US$750,000 in 2015/2016. This trading in options, which was executed by the then Marketing Manager of CMC and directly supervised by Dr Opuni, is a subject of investigations currently being undertaken by COCOBOD.

In addition, price discounts which were given on cocoa sales for COCOBOD’s failure to honour contracts on due dates resulted in losses to COCOBOD. The price discounts, which were executed at the blind side of appropriate approval channels, resulted in the loss of US$12.4 million to COCOBOD. COCOBOD has had to deal with all these losses from the 2016/2017 production tonnage, further explaining the so-called excess production.

5. Advance Receipt of Proceeds against Future Production of Cocoa

The previous administration of COCOBOD in the NDC era sourced and received a total of US$320.70 million in addition to the US$1.7 billion syndicated loan funding received in 2014/2015. Part deliveries were made on the advances and US$128.70 million in outstanding commitments were carried forward into the following year 2015/2016.

Additional advances of US$178.70 million were received in 2015/2016 by the previous administration for which no deliveries were made.

On the assumption of office of the new COCOBOD administration, total commitments of US$35.97 million equivalent to 13,539 metric tonnes of cocoa were outstanding as a result of the advances received, having run from 2014/2015 and 2015/2016. These inherited cocoa delivery commitments were satisfied with production from the 2016/2017 crop, further explaining the so-called excess production.

6.Roll-Over of Sales Contracts Resulting from Unrealistic Production Forecasts

COCOBOD budgeted to achieve a production tonnage of 900,000 metric tonnes of cocoa in 2014/2015. Crop forecast and COCOBOD Research analysis had indicated a realistic production of 750,000 metric tonnes. The COCOBOD Research forecast was rejected by the then Chief Executive, Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni, who was an appointee of NDC.

Apparently, the Chief Executive and his management team then had used the conjured production of 900,000 tonnes to arrange a loan facility of US$1.7 billion in the 2014/2015 season. A production figure of 740,000 metric tonnes was however achieved instead of the 900,000 tonnes. COCOBOD deliberately oversold cocoa based on the 900,000 metric tonnes. Consequently, this created default on the part of COCOBOD generating losses for non-delivery of contracted volumes on due dates.

The same situation occurred in the 2015/2016 season with an actual production of 778,000 tonnes achieved when a loan facility of US$1.8 billion had been secured with a production forecast of 850,000 metric tonnes. COCOBOD had difficulty repaying the two facilities in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 due to inaccurate forecast and insufficient crop to service sales contracts.

The new Management of COCOBOD, upon the assumption of office in February 2017, had a liability of US$280 million (equivalent to 61,894 metric tonnes) to serve as a result of rolling over contracts from 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 seasons. Part of the 2016/2017 production had to be applied to fulfil such sales contracts, explaining the utilisation of the so-called excess production.

7.Non-Payment of Borrowings, and Repayment with Advance Receipts against Future Production

It is instructive to note that the previous COCOBOD administration under the NDC failed to pay for the annual syndicated funding in 2014/2015 and 2015/2016 with cocoa deliveries as normally the case. Cocoa production declined as a result of the abandonment of the cocoa rehabilitation programme. Cocoa farms were neglected and budgeted production could not be achieved to meet repayment of contracted loans and advances with cocoa sales proceeds. These are indicative of the gross mismanagement with which the NDC handled the affairs of COCOBOD.

8.Free Fertilizer Programme

The free fertilizer programme was used by the NDC to introduce sub-standard and inefficacious fertilizers into the cocoa Hi-Tech programme. Cocoa farmers expressed misgivings and disquiet in accepting the sub-standard fertilizers through the free fertilizer programme introduced by Dr Opuni and the NDC regime. He resolved to wilfully cause financial waste such that farmers would be compelled to accept the fertilizers for free if acceptance through the subsidized sale was not successful.

Similarly, the cocoa mass spraying exercise was changed from the normal model of spraying by gangs to the distribution of sub-standard insecticides and fungicides to farmers to spray their own farms. The amount saved from the non-payment of gangs was misapplied through inflated contracts.

The rehabilitation programme was abandoned by the NDC regime, and therefore the party cannot claim credit for the cutting of mistletoes. Rather, the NDC decided to pursue the so-called free distribution of inputs and seedlings, which were rather conduits for inflated contracts and the syphoning of funds.

The NPP Government has now re-introduced the fertilizer subsidy programme with quality and high yielding fertilizers. There is an average subsidy of 53% on the fertilizers. The mass spraying gangs are paid promptly and therefore there is no evidence to suggest that spraying gang allowances have been in arrears for four (4) months as alleged by the NDC press conference. The gangs spray evenly across all farms without discrimination.

It is very interesting to hear the minority talk about challenges with the Cocoa Mass Spraying programme when the government has, in fact, re-launched the programme to make it more viable. All the so-called challenges mentioned are non-existent. Cocoa diseases and pests do not know the political affiliation of cocoa farmers. It will, therefore, be unfortunate for COCOBOD to politicise this important intervention which has played a very important role in increased cocoa production since its introduction in 2001.

The NDC administration spearheaded procurement of agrochemical and fertilizer inputs above allocated budgets. The budgets for the years were exceeded through padded contracts. Worse to mention is the fact that these agro inputs were rushed through the scientific testing regime by the Cocoa Research Institute of Ghana (CRIG).

Officials of CRIG who resisted to rush the products through the fast-tracked testing regime were transferred. These inputs were confirmed by farmers across the country to be ineffective and it is not surprising that Ghana’s cocoa production plummeted to the 740,000 and 778,000 tonnes in the 2014/2015 and the 2015/2016 seasons respectively when Dr Opuni was in charge of COCOBOD.

In addition to this, the NDC Government had awarded contracts for fertilizer and chemical supplies worth more than GHC500.00 million before leaving office in January 2017. The new management had to renegotiate these contracts, saving the Ghanaian farmer over GHS80.00 million.

9. Ill-Conceived, Financially Over-burdening Construction Contracts

The penchant to siphon funds through inflated contracts was rampant in the NDC administration through ill-conceived construction contracts in the cocoa sector. These contracts were awarded without proper value for money analysis, bringing into question the motive for the contracts.

For example, the contract for COCOBOD to construct a guest house at Bole in the Northern Region was needless at the time it was awarded. President Mahama was said to have influenced the award to enable him to enjoy comfortable holidays during visits to his constituency.

Also, the contract to construct a 50,000 metric tonne warehouse at Tema was not considered to be financially and operationally prudent at the time since COCOBOD already had enough warehousing capacity at Tema to sustain its operations into the foreseeable future. The warehouse rehabilitation contract at Abuakwa in Kumasi was not required at the time since the facilities were in excellent working condition. Last but not the least, a whopping US$24 million contract was awarded to demolish excellent staff housing quarters in Tema, only to construct new housing facilities raising several questions about the motive for the award of the contract.

10. Annual Syndicated Loan Facility – Accounting for the US$1.8 Billion 2016/2017 Syndicated Loan

The NDC government secured an amount of US$1.8 billion for the 2016/2017 cocoa purchases which were projected at 850,000 metric tonnes.

As at January 2017, the US$1.8 billion had been fully drawn and utilized when only 587,125 metric tonnes of cocoa had been purchased. The mystery surrounding the exhaustion of the US$1.8 billion is being investigated and the full facts will be made known to Ghanaians in due course. Peculiar to the loan utilization is the last drawdown of US$400.0 million which was effected on 20th December 2016 at the time the NDC had woefully lost the December 2016 elections.

It is still surprising how the full drawdown of US$400.00 million (GH¢1.69 billion) was fully expended between 20th December 2016 and 6th January 2017 when the NPP government took over after 7th January 2017. Audit findings into the utilization of the amount will be made known to Ghanaians at the appropriate time when the full facts are unravelled. Despite this inability to account properly for the loan, the NPP Government was saddled with a whopping debt of GHC19.6 billion after taking over in January 2017.

11. Governance Structure

The governance structure at COCOBOD has not posed any problem for smooth and effective administrative procedures. The NDC has failed to support their claim of the CMC budget increment by 38% and they have also failed to support their claim of the current governance structure causing the increase. The governance at COCOBOD is working smoothly, and all corporate governance procedures are being followed.

There is evidence to show that the NDC over bloated revenue and allocated budgets for spending the available resources.

12. Abuse of Power and Wasteful Expenditure

It is worth noting that the extent of mismanagement left by the President Mahama administration with Dr Opuni in charge of COCOBOD needs experienced and prudent management to redeem the institution from its current debts and mess.

Thus, on assumption of office, the NPP administration has initiated various value for money audits, and Ghanaians will soon know the extent of rot left by the President Mahama administration at COCOBOD. Staff are either on leave, at the post or interdicted and payment to them are not considered wasteful.

13. Export Duty Abuse

The President Mahama/Opuni tenure used export duty payments from COCOBOD as a conduit to syphon funds for activities not related to cocoa. A case in point is the payment of US$25million from COCOBOD to Construction Pioneers (CP) in January 2016 to settle judgement debt awarded against the Government of Ghana in the UK. Without this payment, Government was to lose a property worth about US$1.2 million in the UK as a result of reckless handling of debts owed CP.

This amount was taken from COCOBOD in the name of “exercise” duty (in the word of the then Deputy Minister of Finance – a Board member of COCOBOD Casiel Ato Forson). The payment under export duty was to make it appear legitimate.

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, this is the depleted state the NDC Government left COCOBOD.

Let me assure you that we are up to the task of solving the myriad of problems we inherited but we do not need the needless noise by the Minority in Parliament.

Time will not allow me to go over the numerous interventions we’ve rolled out as we seek to make cocoa sustainable in Ghana and make our farmers better-off.

We believe in Cocoa farming and cocoa business and we pledge to help build and enticing cocoa industry for Ghana.

Thank you for your attention.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Ghc80m saved from NDC’s Ghc500m fertilizer contract – COCOBOD appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Asafu Adjei, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Nsuta-Kwamang-Beposo Constituency, said he was shocked upon hearing that the COCOBOD CEO receive such a colossal amount.

[contextly_sidebar id=”fwvWGPxZObYxvXS3s90cHhEY74ufJfcR”]His comment follows the revelation by the new Board Chair for COCOBOD, Hackman Owusu-Agyeman, who similarly expressed concern about the huge salary.

“For me, it is absolutely unthinkable that the gross salary of the Chief Executive Officer should be in the neighbourhood of GHc 70,000 to GHc 75,000 a month, and the net is about GHc 55, 000 to GHc 57,000 a month. If you even discount this by 50 percent, it would still be higher than anybody under article 71 of the constitution,” Hackman Owusu-Agyeman noted.

The revelation has stirred public debate with many Ghanaians questioning the rational in paying such huge amounts at the expense of cocoa farmers who are largely impoverished, coupled with the fact that the cocoa sector hasn’t seen significant growth.

Mr. Asafu Adjei, in an interview with Citi News’ Duke Mensah-Opoku, said the best thing Dr. Opuni should have done was to have turned down the money on moral grounds.

“I was shocked and surprised to hear that a whooping sum of GHc70,000 is paid to the Chief Executive of COCOBOD. I don’t even believe that the President is even paid GHc30, 000. How can a public servant collect that sum? I don’t know the operations and organization of COCOBOD, but if it is anything at all, it is the board of directors that approve the money and I believe that the Chief Executive, morally, should have refused that huge sum.”

“The board has approved it so what? The board does not own COCOBOD, so he should have said, thank you, but I can’t take GHc70, 000,” Asafu Adjei insisted.

I’ll cut salaries of top management 

Hackman Owusu-Agyeman has indicated his commitment to ensure a reduction in the salaries of the top management members of the state agency.

Mr. Owusu-Agyeman asserted that, COCOBOD as an institution had to fall in line with the state remuneration structure.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Opuni should have rejected GHc70, 000 salary – MP appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Although reasons for the seizure have not been officially communicated, the sources have hinted Citi News that EOCO is seeking to investigate the entire period that Dr. Opuni served as CEO of that critical state agency.

Specifically, government intends to probe some supposed fraudulent multi-million dollar contracts he’s believed to have signed before leaving office, the sources indicated. It is also unclear for now; whether EOCO may have carried out this action based on a court order.

Mr. Opuni’s tenure was engrossed in several allegations of corruption and mismanagement of the cocoa sector, with his critics accusing him of running down the critical sector; which generates revenue for the country and employs millions of Ghanaians.

Dr. Opuni was on January 12, 2017, asked to leave office  barely a week after the new NPP government was inaugurated.

As a former CEO of the Food and Drugs Authority (FDA), Dr. Stephen K. Opuni was appointed by former President John Mahama on November 30, 2013, to head the COCOBOD.

He replaced Anthony Fofie, who headed COCOBOD from 2009.

Dr. Opuni’s ‘rot’ killing cocoa sector – GAWU alleges

In April 2016, the General Agriculture Workers Union (GAWU), and the Industrial Commercial Workers Unions (ICU), launched a scathing attack on the leadership of COCOBOD, accusing its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Stephen Opuni of presiding over corruption.

GAWU and ICU said corruption at COCOBOD, headed by Dr. Stephen Opuni was affecting the production of cocoa in the country.

COCOBOD staff defends Opuni

But some staff of COCOBOD at the time jumped his defence, insisting that, Dr. Opuni has not caused any disaffection within the ranks of COCOBOD as ICU and GAWU were alleging.

The Staff of the company thus served notice of withdrawing from the two unions, citing a growing mistrust between workers of COCOBOD and the unions.

Opuni contributed to NDC’s defeat – Nukpenu

Dr. Opuni has also been criticized heavily by some persons in the National Democratic Congress (NDC), although he served in that party’s administration.

The Greater Accra Regional Organiser of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Anthony Nukpenu, in an interview with Citi FM on January 16, 2017, said Dr. Stephen K. Opuni contributed to the NDC’s defeat in the 2016 polls.

Mr. Nukpenu accused the former COCOBOD CEO of ignoring people who were not within his circles, making it difficult to engage him on matters pertaining to policy with some NDC members or stakeholders.

“People come across him in public settings or private settings and it is like he has a class of people he should deal with. If you don’t fall in that class, talking to him is a challenge.” “For example, I would not go to his office to seek for financial favours or contract favours. I may encounter a challenge in his field of work because I interact with downstream cocoa sector workers. If there is a challenge, I need to meet the CEO and lay it there. And if we find it difficult in meeting him then what are we doing as a government or as a party,” Mr. Nukpenu lamented.
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By: Ebenezer Afanyi Dadzie/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Opuni’s assets frozen; EOCO probes his tenure at COCOBOD appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Dr. Opuni, who was recently directed by the Presidency to handover to the president’s representative at the Ministry of Agriculture, has bee accused of not connecting with members of the NDC thus contributing to voter apathy.

Speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Nukpenu insisted that “his [Opuni’s] role has also caused our defeat. I have friends, workers of the COCOBOD who told me in the face that; we are not going to vote for you people in 2016 because you created a monster between us and our CEO therefore we will not vote for NPP, but we will not vote NDC either.”

“How did we suffer our defeat; because apathy set in. people refused to go to the polls,” the NDC executive pointed out as he indicated that there were senior members of the NDC who were bitter over Dr. Opuni’s attitude.

“I know senior members of government and party who are bitter about Opuni and will not come out to talk. They are even more dangerous than me talking,” Mr. Nukpenu stated.

Opuni shunned us

Mr. Nukpenu also accused the former COCOBOD CEO of ignoring people who were not within his circles, making it difficult to engage him on matters pertaining to policy with some NDC members or stakeholders.

“People come across him in public settings or private settings and it is like he has a class of people he should deal with. If you don’t fall in that class, talking to him is a challenge.”

“For example, I would not go to his office to seek for financial favours or contract favours. I may encounter a challenge in his field of work because I interact with downstream cocoa sector workers. If there is a challenge, I need to meet the CEO and lay it there. And if we find it difficult in meeting him then what are we doing as a government or as a party,” Mr. Nukpenu lamented.

Blame Rawlings for NDC’s ‘humiliating defeat’ – Nukpenu 

Mr. Nukpenu has been blaming various individuals for the party’s defeat, including blaming former President Rawlings, the party’s Founder for their loss.

This is regardless of the fact that the party has set up a committee to investigate its bad performance at the polls.

Impunity and corruption caused NDC’s defeat – Rawlings 

Meanwhile ex-President John Rawlings has accused former government officials of causing the defeat of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the just ended general elections.

He believes though there were clear signs ahead of the general polls that the NDC would lose the elections, it ignored the signs on the wall and failed to act.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Opuni contributed to NDC’s defeat – Nukpenu appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.