This is why Dr Opuni has sued Daily Guide for GHS2m

Former CEO of COCOBOD, Dr Opuni, has sued Daily Guide and its publishers for defamation.

Dr Opuni stated in the suit that the newspaper, in its April 9, 2018 edition, described him as an “incompetent person who has caused COCOBOD to lose almost GHS60 million”.

The plaintiff said the article indicated that he “engaged in acts that are in clear breach of policy, meaning he did not follow the policy of COCOBOD and, therefore, acted inappropriately” as well as was “reckless with the funds of COCOBOD and wasted COCOBOD’s money.”

In the suit, Dr. Opuni, joined Fortune Alime, editor of the newspaper and a Columnist William Yaw Owusu. The former CEO is demanding an amount of GHc2 million as compensation.

He is also seeking the court to restrain the defendants jointly and, or severally; either by themselves or their agents, or assigns, from further publishing or causing to be printed, published, and, or distributed, the said defamatory words, and, or similar words.

Dr Opuni is further seeking a retraction and apology, which should be published “with the same prominence as the publications of the 9th day of April 2018, together with four publications on the front and back pages of the Daily Graphic newspaper for four consecutive weeks.”

Dr Opuni, and businessman Seidu Agongo and his company AgriCult Company Limited, are facing 27 charges of willfully causing financial loss to the state, in connection with the supply of fertilizers to COCOBOD in three separate contracts.
They include GHS43.1million (2013/2014 cocoa farming season), GHS75.3million (2014/2015 cocoa farming season) and GHS98.9million (2015/2016 cocoa farming season) totaling GHS217million through sole-sourcing, the state claimed, adding that procurement procedures for sole-sourcing were not followed.

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