Francis Cyril Attu Asiedu, a former Extension Coordinating Officer for the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD), has defended the quality and efficacy of Lithovit fertiliser in court, disputing allegations that it was a substandard agrochemical product for cocoa production.
Asiedu, who served as the Kade District Extension Coordinating Officer, argued that claims about Lithovit’s inefficacy were unfounded, insisting instead that it positively impacted cocoa yields.
Testifying before Justice Aboagye Tandoh, Mr. Asiedu stated that none of the 9,260 farmers under his supervision, who collectively managed 14,670 cocoa farms, reported any dissatisfaction with Lithovit fertiliser.
On the contrary, he noted, many farmers continued to request more, suggesting both its popularity and effectiveness.
Under examination by Benson Nutsukpui, counsel for Seidu Agongo and Agricult Ghana Limited, Mr. Asiedu detailed his experience overseeing Lithovit’s application and its reception among farmers.
The witness also shared how he personally applied Lithovit on his five-acre cocoa farm, observing a significant boost in yields.
He described the application process and highlighted the demand for the fertiliser among cocoa farmers in the Kade district, as well as in other districts such as Asamankese, which also received the product from COCOBOD.
The court learned that Lithovit distribution to farmers in Kade ceased in 2017 following a change in government.
According to Mr. Asiedu, COCOBOD issued instructions to stop using Lithovit, allegedly due to a pending court case involving the fertiliser, though no official explanation was provided to farmers or extension officers.
When questioned about COCOBOD’s organisational structure and information flow, Mr. Asiedu described how regional and district reports on fertiliser application were compiled, reviewed, and discussed.
These reports, he explained, were instrumental in assessing the fertiliser’s impact on yields and were ultimately submitted to COCOBOD’s national headquarters.
During cross-examination by Samuel Codjoe, Defense Counsel for Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni, Mr. Asiedu confirmed that he had not personally interacted with COCOBOD’s deputy executives during his tenure.
Nevertheless, he affirmed COCOBOD’s structured system for reporting and evaluating agricultural inputs, including Lithovit, and expressed confidence in its benefits for cocoa production, based on his experience and farmers’ feedback.
The case, which has attracted significant public interest, is set to resume on November 6, 2024 at 10:30 am.
