Opuni, Agongo trial: NDC accused of trying to influence outcome by busing supporters

The Ghana Anti-Corruption Coalition (GACC) is accusing executives of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) of trying to use its supporters to influence the outcome of a trial involving a former CEO of Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Dr Stephen Opuni and businessman, Seidu Agongo.

Scores of party faithful on Monday flocked to the Accra Courts complex to solidarise with Dr Opuni, who is facing trial for causing financial loss to the state.

According to Executive Secretary of the GACC, Beauty Emefa Narteh, the busing of hundreds of party supporters to the court premises is aimed at putting fear in the judges sitting on the case.

The Executive Secretary of the Coalition was speaking Monday evening on Adom FM’s Burning Issues programme hosted by Afia Pokua.

The GACC Executive Secretary said the busing of party supporters to court is a known tactic used to intimidate judges sitting on a case and condemned the action by the NDC.

The mainly youthful throng, who were seen singing and drumming told Joy News they were bused to the Courts complex by NDC executives.

Beauty Emefa Narteh told Afia Pokua that the judges should stand firm to apply the law without fear or favour, regardless of the support the accused people gets in court.

“The judges should be bold, courageous in determining the case to deter the political parties and their supporters from mounting such pressures on the judiciary” she admonished the judges.

Contributing to the discussions, Programme Officer at CDD-Ghana, Paul Mensah Abrampa said Ghana needs a solid judicial system to determine political cases despite the noise and pressures from party supporters and executives.

Abrampa Mensah however, noted that confidence in the Judiciary is eroding and called on the bench to expedite action on cases involving political heads.

Meanwhile, Stephen Opuni has been granted bail by the Accra High court hearing the 27 charges against him including causing financial loss to the state.

His self-recognisance bail is to the tune of 300,000 cedis, the judge ruled and directed that he deposits his passport with the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters in Accra.

He is also to report himself to the CID any time he wishes to travel outside the country.

The Second accused, Seidu Agongo, was also granted self-recognisance bail to the tune of 300,000 cedis and is to follow the same directives given Dr Opuni.

Source:Myjoyonline