A witness in the trial of the former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ghana Cocoa Board, Dr Stephen Kwabena Opuni and others, Chief Inspector Thomas Prempeh Mercer has told an Accra High Court that former was earning monthly salary of more than GH₵25, 000 during his tenure in office.

Chief Insp. Mercer, an investigator in the trial of Dr Opuni and two others – Siedu Agongo and Agricult Ghana Limited -revealed this yesterday in the court presided over by a Supreme Court judge, Justice Clemence Honyenuga.

The disclosure followed a question posed to the witness by Nutifafa Nutsukpui, defence counsel for Mr Agongo during cross-examination.

Mr Nutifafa who is holding brief for Benson Nutsukpui, in relation to some GH₵21, 000, which is purported to have been deposited into Dr Opuni’s Ecobank account by Siedu Agongo, posed a question to the witness whether he knows how much the former COCOBOD boss was earning a month.

The witness in response said the pay slip of A1 (Dr Opuni) shows the amount he earned every month through his period at COCOBOD but the said amount was not on a document that was procured from Economic and organised Crime Office (EOCO), however was prepared produce same if asked to, since “I don’t have the exact figure in my head.”

 The lawyer then suggested to him, whether Dr Opuni’s salary would be in the region of GH₵25, 000 or more. PW7 answered that the former CEO’s was earning something way above GH₵25,000.

 The lawyer then suggested to him that if indeed Dr Opuni was earning that much then there is no question about GH₵21, 000 deposited in his account, as that could possibly be his own money.

 Chief Insp. Mercer refuted the assertion and said “My lord that is not so. My lord, I have explained in this court and produced evidence to support that and to tell the court that A1’s in giving statement to the police, he said he gave the money to A2 to be deposited in his count. A2 also said he does not remember but what he can remember is he paid 25,000 to into A1’s account to cater for needy children.”

But the lawyer insisted that whether the witness believe Dr Opuni or not GH₵250, 000 was within his monthly earning capacity.

By Adeliade Oforiwaa