A retired Kade District Extension Coordinator of the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), Francis Cyril Attu Asiedu, has debunked claims by the prosecution that Lithovit fertilizer was ineffective and likened to water.
The claims, specifically made by Dr Yaw Adu-Ampomah, the third Prosecution Witness (PW3), suggested that farmers allegedly consumed Lithovit, considering it ineffective.
Testifying as the eighth Defense Witness (DW8) for Seidu Agongo, owner of Agricult Ghana Limited and the supplier of Lithovit fertilizer, Mr. Asiedu vehemently refuted these allegations.
He stated that during his tenure, Lithovit was a popular and effective fertilizer among farmers, significantly increasing cocoa yields without any adverse reports.
Mr. Asiedu recalled during education sessions with cocoa farmers, the Extension officers emphasised the effects of chemicals on human life, citing examples such as the Akomadan tomato farmers, who used to test chemicals with their fingers. Over time, this practice led to health issues, including impotence among some men.
DW8 further explained that Lithovit was well-received by farmers across the Kade district during the 2014/15 and 2015/16 cocoa seasons.
Demonstrations were conducted on his personal five-acre cocoa farm in Akyem Pramkese, which was used as a model to show the correct application and benefits of the fertilizer.
When asked about reports from the field, Mr. Asiedu maintained that there were no complaints regarding Lithovit’s effectiveness.
“He stated that farmers not only used Lithovit, but requested more due to its positive impact on their yield, adding “we received no adverse reports from the field.”
Mr. Asiedu’s testimony comes as the court hears 27 charges against former COCOBOD Chief Executive, Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni (A1) and Seidu Agongo (A2), including defrauding by false pretenses and causing financial loss to the state. The trial, presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh, has been adjourned to October 24, 2024.
