Hammered but unbroken…
For nearly eight years, Alhaji Seidu Agongo spent almost every Monday to Thursday in court, answering to allegations that took more political twists and turns than followed legal and natural rules.
This morning, the businessman and philanthropist walked away a free man after the state withdrew all charges against him.
The Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Akuritinga Ayine told the court that the state did not find merit in continuing with the prosecution, bringing to an end almost eight gruelling years of a legal marathon that criss-crossed the High Court, Appeal Court and the Supreme Court.
“This is a triumph for truth in a generation,” Alhaji Agongo said after walking out of the courtroom, wearing a cautious smile.
“It is a sigh of relief of a great magnitude that you can’t 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,” he added.
The beginning
The Steven Opuni-Agongo trial started around 2017.
For nearly eight long and gruelling years under the Akufo-Addo administration, the two endured what can only be described as a nightmare.
Alhaji Agongo’s name, once synonymous with business success and philanthropy, was dragged through the mud. His reputation was shattered, and his life turned into a battlefield.
Accusations of fraud, deception, money laundering and financial impropriety were wielded against him with a relentlessness that felt less like justice and more like an orchestrated vendetta. For Alhaji Agongo, the courtroom became a theatre of injustice, and the media a platform for the calculated demolition of his character and business acumen.
His only “crime”? Supplying Lithovit Liquid Fertiliser – a highly effective, yield-boosting agrochemical that transformed the lives of countless cocoa farmers – to the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD). Farmer after farmer stood before the court to testify in his defence. They spoke passionately about how Lithovit had changed their lives, enabling them to achieve dreams they never thought possible. 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 were the true beneficiaries, described Lithovit as a “life-saver” and clamoured for more. Yet, these exculpatory testimonies fell on deaf ears as Alhaji Agongo’s enemies pursued their goal with a chilling determination: to bring him down at all costs.
The Godfred Dame-led Ministry of Justice and Attorney General as well as Chief Justice Gertrude Torkonoo would leave no stone unturned in their “persecution” of Alhaji Agongo, even after the likes of Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah had ruled that the case be started de novo (afresh) due to the raft of complaints of unfairness from the defendants throughout the hearing.
The attacks extended beyond the courtroom. His bank, Heritage Bank Limited – a symbol of his hard work and entrepreneurial spirit – was collapsed. Not for any wrongdoing, but out of what many believe were malice, jealousy and sheer tribalism. The collapse of Heritage Bank, orchestrated by then-Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta and the Bank of Ghana Governor Ernest Addison, was a devastating blow. It was not just a business decision; it was a deliberate act to cripple a man who had dared to succeed and dared to align himself with the National Democratic Congress (NDC).
The persecution did not stop there. His assets were frozen, leaving him unable to access funds to sustain his business ventures. His passport was seized, denying him the fundamental right to freedom of movement and cutting him off from international business opportunities. Government-sponsored propaganda filled the airwaves, tarnishing his name and driving away potential partners and clients. It was a calculated effort to isolate and destroy him, piece by piece.
But even as the walls closed in around him, Alhaji Agongo refused to break. He fought tirelessly to clear his name and defend his integrity. In the face of relentless persecution, he remained steadfast, his faith unshaken. When judges like Justice Kwasi Anokye Gyimah ruled in favour of fairness by ordering a retrial, they were quickly transferred, as though fairness itself was a punishable offence. The legal and judicial manoeuvres appeared to be part of a carefully choreographed plan to ensure his downfall. Yet, despite these efforts, they could not extinguish the truth.
While many would have crumbled under the weight of such immense pressure, Alhaji Agongo chose to rise above it. He continued to be a source of hope and support for countless others. Despite his own suffering, he remained a relentless philanthropist, giving generously to those in need. Thousands of orphans and underprivileged students had their education funded by him. He provided support to widows, the sick and disaster-stricken communities. He even went as far as building a children’s ward at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital, a lasting testament to his compassion and commitment to humanity. These acts of kindness were not done from a place of abundance – his resources had been stripped away – but from a place of deep conviction and faith.
Even as the government sought to suffocate his businesses and tarnish his legacy, Alhaji Agongo stood as the financial backbone of the NDC. Whenever the party called on him for assistance, he answered. Without the benefit of his bank or access to many of his frozen assets, he found ways to provide, ensuring the party could continue its campaigns and fight for a return to power. He did all of this while carrying the weight of a nation’s scrutiny on his shoulders. Among other crucial contributions, he has used and continues to use his media empire, the Class Media Group (CMG), which comprises Class91.3FM, Accra100.5FM, No.1 (105.3FM), Kumasi104.1FM, Ho 92.5FM, Adehye FM, Dagbon FM, Sunyani FM, Taadi FM, CTV and Classfmonline.com, to support the party and its government.
After years of pain and struggle, justice finally began to prevail. The new Attorney General withdrew the case, stating the state’s disinterest in continuing this farce of a case. The charges against Alhaji Seidu Agongo were struck out, and he walked free – a man vindicated, his innocence intact. It was not just a legal victory; it was a triumph of truth over malice, of faith over despair, of resilience over oppression.
As Alhaji Agongo steps into the light after eight years of darkness, his story serves as a powerful reminder that no force of destruction can triumph over the truth. They tried to break him. They tried to erase his legacy, strip him of his dignity and silence his voice. But they failed. What they underestimated was his unwavering faith, his resilience and the countless lives he had touched, all of whom stood as silent witnesses to his true character.
This is more than a story of survival; it is a story of triumph. Alhaji Seidu Agongo is a testament to the fact that the truth, no matter how suppressed, will always rise. His life is proof that even in the face of the most calculated evil, goodness will prevail. If he could endure and overcome the storm that raged for eight years, then, Insha Allah, the years ahead will be brighter and filled with the fulfilment of dreams long deferred.
May his story inspire others to stand firm in the face of injustice, to hold fast to their faith and to remember that no matter how dark the night, the dawn will always come. Alhaji Seidu Agongo has walked through the fire and emerged unbroken, a beacon of hope and resilience for us all.
Source: Class FM
