• Contact US
  • Advertise With US
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Submit Station
Wednesday, August 20, 2025
Kumasi Mail
Advertisement
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Education
    • Health
    • Manhyia
    Assault of nurse at Ridge Hospital: GMA Condemns Violence, Accuses Health Minister of Emboldening Attackers

    Assault of nurse at Ridge Hospital: GMA Condemns Violence, Accuses Health Minister of Emboldening Attackers

    Impunity Endorsed? Oppong Fosu Blasts Bawumia’s Meeting with Fante Comedy After Death Threats

    Impunity Endorsed? Oppong Fosu Blasts Bawumia’s Meeting with Fante Comedy After Death Threats

    Andrew Owusu Thomas pleads guilty to OSP charges, convicted to pay GH¢200k as compensation

    OSP Clarifies Reports on Cecilia Dapaah Investigation

    GoldBod Tribunal Inaugurated at Finance Ministry; Chairperson and Members Sworn In by Finance Minister Dr. Ato Forson

    GoldBod Tribunal Inaugurated at Finance Ministry; Chairperson and Members Sworn In by Finance Minister Dr. Ato Forson

    Government Launches BSTEM Training Program in Sunyani to Strengthen Science and Technology Education  Sunyani

    Government Launches BSTEM Training Program in Sunyani to Strengthen Science and Technology Education Sunyani

    President Akufo Addo delivers keynote address at Nigeria’s National Defence College Graduation Lecture Abuja, Nigeria

    President Akufo Addo delivers keynote address at Nigeria’s National Defence College Graduation Lecture Abuja, Nigeria

    President John Dramani Maham

    President John Dramani Maham

    President Mahama Traveled to Japan on Emirates Commercial Flight- Kwakye Ofosu

    President Mahama Traveled to Japan on Emirates Commercial Flight- Kwakye Ofosu

    From Death Row to Freedom: Mahama Pardons 998 Prisoners

    From Death Row to Freedom: Mahama Pardons 998 Prisoners

    • Health
    • Education
  • Election 2024
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Showbiz
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • World
  • Media
  • Manhyia
  • History
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Education
    • Health
    • Manhyia
    Assault of nurse at Ridge Hospital: GMA Condemns Violence, Accuses Health Minister of Emboldening Attackers

    Assault of nurse at Ridge Hospital: GMA Condemns Violence, Accuses Health Minister of Emboldening Attackers

    Impunity Endorsed? Oppong Fosu Blasts Bawumia’s Meeting with Fante Comedy After Death Threats

    Impunity Endorsed? Oppong Fosu Blasts Bawumia’s Meeting with Fante Comedy After Death Threats

    Andrew Owusu Thomas pleads guilty to OSP charges, convicted to pay GH¢200k as compensation

    OSP Clarifies Reports on Cecilia Dapaah Investigation

    GoldBod Tribunal Inaugurated at Finance Ministry; Chairperson and Members Sworn In by Finance Minister Dr. Ato Forson

    GoldBod Tribunal Inaugurated at Finance Ministry; Chairperson and Members Sworn In by Finance Minister Dr. Ato Forson

    Government Launches BSTEM Training Program in Sunyani to Strengthen Science and Technology Education  Sunyani

    Government Launches BSTEM Training Program in Sunyani to Strengthen Science and Technology Education Sunyani

    President Akufo Addo delivers keynote address at Nigeria’s National Defence College Graduation Lecture Abuja, Nigeria

    President Akufo Addo delivers keynote address at Nigeria’s National Defence College Graduation Lecture Abuja, Nigeria

    President John Dramani Maham

    President John Dramani Maham

    President Mahama Traveled to Japan on Emirates Commercial Flight- Kwakye Ofosu

    President Mahama Traveled to Japan on Emirates Commercial Flight- Kwakye Ofosu

    From Death Row to Freedom: Mahama Pardons 998 Prisoners

    From Death Row to Freedom: Mahama Pardons 998 Prisoners

    • Health
    • Education
  • Election 2024
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Showbiz
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • World
  • Media
  • Manhyia
  • History
No Result
View All Result
Kumasi Mail
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Election 2024
  • Politics
  • Business
  • Showbiz
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • World
  • Media
  • Manhyia
  • History
Home News

COCOBOD Case: Test report being relied upon to prosecute Opuni, Agongo has no scientific grounds- Witness

Kumasi Mail by Kumasi Mail
January 13, 2025
in News
0
COCOBOD Case: Test report being relied upon to prosecute Opuni, Agongo has no scientific grounds- Witness
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

It has emerged at the High Court in Accra that fertiliser test report being relied upon by the Prosecution in the ongoing trial of former Chief Executive of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni and two others “has no scientific grounding.”

It also came to the attention of the Court that, the said test result produced by one Quartey-Papafio, a scientist was “unreliable” and the conclusion was “contradictory.”

Dr. Samuel Akoto Bamford, a Principal Research Scientist with School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences – Atomic Energy Ghana made this known to the Court presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh, a Justice of the Court of Appeal sitting as an additional High Court judge on Monday, January 13, 2025.

While testifying as the ninth Defence Witness for Businessman, Seidu Agongo and Agricult Ghana Limited (2nd and 3rd Accused persons respectively), Dr Bamford said said though the Material Science Report is acceptable and reliable, Quartey-Papafio’s Report being used by the Prosecution “cannot be relied upon.”

Being led by Benson Nutsupkui Esq., lead counsel for the second and third accused, he apprised the Court on the grounds and methods used in both results he analyzed – which reports he tendered in evidence.

Dr. Opuni and Mr Agongo are facing 27 charges, including defrauding by false pretences, willfully causing financial loss to the State to the tune of GHc217 million, money laundering, corruption by a public officer and contravention of the Public Procurement Act.

They have both pleaded not guilty to the charges and are on a GH¢300,000.00 self-recognizance bail each.

So far, both Prosecution and Dr Opuni have closed their respective cases after calling seven and 10 Witnesses respectively.

While Businessman Seidu Agongo and his company Agricult Ghana Limited are in the witness box parading their witnesses with Dr Samuel Bamford, their ninth Witness.

Unreliable test results

While speaking to the first issue raised in his report about the Quartey Papafio’s report which has been referenced by the Prosecution for their case, the Witness said, “the reference number stated in the Quartey Papafio report is a standards reference for drinking water.”

However, he explained that, “Water and fertiliser have different nature or matrix.”

It is the case of the Witness that, “water and fertiliser are not the same kind of sample so you (scientist) cannot use a standard and procedure for analysing water for fertiliser without serious modifications.”

Dr Bamford also told the Court that, though the Quartey Papafio report use the standard technique which cited – standard GS175 which was done in 2017, yet it was for drinking water quality and that Quartey-Papafio’s analytical technique used “were unclear and ambiguous.”

In his analysis of the result of the Quartey Papafio report, the Witness again said, the Quartey Papafio’s report “presented only three parameters – Caladium, magnesium and urea.

But, these parameters he said are either “insufficient or incomplete for any fertiliser analysis.”

“The reporting of the few parameters analysed were not according to the practice in the analysis of fertiliser,” the ninth Witness for Seidu Agongo and Agricult told told the Court.

Explaining his views about the conclusion drawn by the Quartey-Papafio’s report relied on by the Prosecution, the Witness said, “The conclusion of the Quartey-Papafio’s report is contradictory to their own results.”

“My conclusion is that, the result presented are unreliable because the test methods employed are unsuitable for fertiliser,” he said.

Asked to tell the Court if in the determination of whether a product is a fertiliser or not, Quartey-Papafio’s report is capable of being relied upon, the Witness answered in the negative.

“It cannot be relied upon because the results are inaccurate and the conclusion wrong,” the Witness told the Court.

Material Science Report reliable

On his analysis of the Material Science Report which is being relied upon by the defence, the Witness said it proved the reliable outcome.

“The reference standards and methods used in the Material Science report, the Appendix 2, are acceptable because they complied with the prescribed method of fertilisers as outlined in the Ghana Fertiliser Analytical Manual.”

In his explanation to the Court on his report, he said, “The analytical technique for each parameter determined was clearly spelt out and these techniques are the prescribed techniques in the analytical manual.”

Again, Dr Bamford, who said he supervises PhD students said, “the result presented by the Material Science Laboratory covered the parameters expected for fertilisers and they were able to determine about eight of these parameters in the report.”

“On this basis, the results they obtained they concluded by identifying the sample the analysed as a fertiliser,” he told the Court on his views on the conclusion of the Material Science Report which he analysed.

“My conclusion is that, the results presented in the report from the materials science laboratory are reliable, because the standards and test method are the prescribed standard and suitable for fertiliser test.

“Again, the number of parameters determined were sufficient and their conclusion identified the sample as a fertiliser,” the expert Witness told the Court.

He explained to the Court that, the Quartey-Papafio’s report “has no scientific grounding.”

“The material science is based on the prescribed standards and methods for analysing fertiliser in accordance with the Ghana Fertiliser Analytical Manual which is in compliance with the Plant and fertiliser Act (Act 803).

It is has testimony to the Court that, “From my evaluation of the Quartey-Papafio’s report, it cannot be used, in my opinion as basis for disqualifying any product as fertiliser.”

source: www.kumasimail.com

Tags: CocoabodDr. Stephen OpuniGhana newstopstory
ShareTweetSend
Previous Post

John Mahama dissolves boards of state institutions

Next Post

Businessman petitions UPSA to sack Agordzo as lecturer over RTI revelation of misconduct

YOU MAY LIKE

Assault of nurse at Ridge Hospital: GMA Condemns Violence, Accuses Health Minister of Emboldening Attackers
Health

Assault of nurse at Ridge Hospital: GMA Condemns Violence, Accuses Health Minister of Emboldening Attackers

Impunity Endorsed? Oppong Fosu Blasts Bawumia’s Meeting with Fante Comedy After Death Threats
News

Impunity Endorsed? Oppong Fosu Blasts Bawumia’s Meeting with Fante Comedy After Death Threats

Andrew Owusu Thomas pleads guilty to OSP charges, convicted to pay GH¢200k as compensation
News

OSP Clarifies Reports on Cecilia Dapaah Investigation

GoldBod Tribunal Inaugurated at Finance Ministry; Chairperson and Members Sworn In by Finance Minister Dr. Ato Forson
News

GoldBod Tribunal Inaugurated at Finance Ministry; Chairperson and Members Sworn In by Finance Minister Dr. Ato Forson

Government Launches BSTEM Training Program in Sunyani to Strengthen Science and Technology Education  Sunyani
News

Government Launches BSTEM Training Program in Sunyani to Strengthen Science and Technology Education Sunyani

Next Post
Businessman petitions UPSA to sack Agordzo as lecturer over RTI revelation of misconduct

Businessman petitions UPSA to sack Agordzo as lecturer over RTI revelation of misconduct

Ejura Municipal Assembly pledges calm and Justice following Ejura incident

Ejura Municipal Assembly pledges calm and Justice following Ejura incident

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

LATEST NEWS

Assault of nurse at Ridge Hospital: GMA Condemns Violence, Accuses Health Minister of Emboldening Attackers

Assault of nurse at Ridge Hospital: GMA Condemns Violence, Accuses Health Minister of Emboldening Attackers

Impunity Endorsed? Oppong Fosu Blasts Bawumia’s Meeting with Fante Comedy After Death Threats

Impunity Endorsed? Oppong Fosu Blasts Bawumia’s Meeting with Fante Comedy After Death Threats

NPP Must Face Its Wrongs, Not Hide Behind Amnesty- Amoako Baah

NPP Must Face Its Wrongs, Not Hide Behind Amnesty- Amoako Baah

Andrew Owusu Thomas pleads guilty to OSP charges, convicted to pay GH¢200k as compensation

OSP Clarifies Reports on Cecilia Dapaah Investigation

GoldBod Tribunal Inaugurated at Finance Ministry; Chairperson and Members Sworn In by Finance Minister Dr. Ato Forson

GoldBod Tribunal Inaugurated at Finance Ministry; Chairperson and Members Sworn In by Finance Minister Dr. Ato Forson

Government Launches BSTEM Training Program in Sunyani to Strengthen Science and Technology Education  Sunyani

Government Launches BSTEM Training Program in Sunyani to Strengthen Science and Technology Education Sunyani

President Akufo Addo delivers keynote address at Nigeria’s National Defence College Graduation Lecture Abuja, Nigeria

President Akufo Addo delivers keynote address at Nigeria’s National Defence College Graduation Lecture Abuja, Nigeria

President John Dramani Maham

President John Dramani Maham

President Mahama Traveled to Japan on Emirates Commercial Flight- Kwakye Ofosu

President Mahama Traveled to Japan on Emirates Commercial Flight- Kwakye Ofosu

From Death Row to Freedom: Mahama Pardons 998 Prisoners

From Death Row to Freedom: Mahama Pardons 998 Prisoners

  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
52-Year-old man arrested in Nsawam for possessing suspected EC Biometric Device

52-Year-old man arrested in Nsawam for possessing suspected EC Biometric Device

Ghana Airforce Z-9 Helicopter Goes Missing en Route to Obuasi, Rescue Efforts Underway

Ghana Airforce Z-9 Helicopter Goes Missing en Route to Obuasi, Rescue Efforts Underway

Asokore Mamponhene Nana Boakye Ansah passes away

Asokore Mamponhene Nana Boakye Ansah passes away

EPA CEO calls for Immediate action to restore polluted water bodies in Ashanti region

EPA CEO calls for Immediate action to restore polluted water bodies in Ashanti region

Hello world!

1
NCA promises lower data prices by year-end

NCA promises lower data prices by year-end

1
COVID-19: Information Ministry justifies GHC150K spent on staff

COVID-19: Information Ministry justifies GHC150K spent on staff

1
EC to conduct mop-up registration August 1-3

EC to conduct mop-up registration August 1-3

1
Assault of nurse at Ridge Hospital: GMA Condemns Violence, Accuses Health Minister of Emboldening Attackers

Assault of nurse at Ridge Hospital: GMA Condemns Violence, Accuses Health Minister of Emboldening Attackers

Impunity Endorsed? Oppong Fosu Blasts Bawumia’s Meeting with Fante Comedy After Death Threats

Impunity Endorsed? Oppong Fosu Blasts Bawumia’s Meeting with Fante Comedy After Death Threats

NPP Must Face Its Wrongs, Not Hide Behind Amnesty- Amoako Baah

NPP Must Face Its Wrongs, Not Hide Behind Amnesty- Amoako Baah

Andrew Owusu Thomas pleads guilty to OSP charges, convicted to pay GH¢200k as compensation

OSP Clarifies Reports on Cecilia Dapaah Investigation

Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram
Kumasi Mail

About US

Advertise With US

Submit Station

© 2024 KumasiMail.com