Jerome Abgesi Dogbatse, a scientist at the Solid Division of Cocoa Research Institute (CRIG), has disclosed that before he joined the institute on November 4, 2013, testing of lithovit fertiliser had already been completed.

The only work, he did that has anything to with lithovit at the time, was to review a draft report on nursery work conducted by the Soil scientists at the Division.

He also stated that before joining CRIG, there were only two staff at the Soil Science Division, namely Dr Alfred Arthur and Mr. A. A. Afrifa, Head of the Division.

His statement was in response to question posed Benson Nutsukpui counsel for Seidu Agongo and Agricult Ghana Limited, while being led in evidence.

The answer, therefore, begs the question whether Dr. Stephen Kwabena Opuni told Scientists to shortened the testing protocol of fertilisers in somewhere in 2014, whereas the witness claims the testing had been completed before he was employed.

Thus, Dr. Opuni was appointed to head the Ghana Cocoa Board (COCOBOD) in December 2013 but resumed his official duties on January 2014, the Accra High Court presided over by Justice Aboagye Tandoh was told.

However, the evidence of the former Executive Director of CRIG, Dr. Franklin Manu Amoah was to the effect that Dr. Opuni summoned scientists soon as he resumed office to compel them to shortened the testing period of fertilisers.

This instruction, according to the prosecution benefitted Lithovit Foliar Fertiliser in particular.Dr. Francis Baah, Director of Research at COCOBOD and second Defense witness (DWA2/A3), has also denied the assertion as ever been part of such meeting were scientists summoned at the instance of Dr. Opuni to shortened testing period for fertilisers.

Dr. Baah further stated that one of the witnesses of the said meeting, Mr James Kofi Kutsoatsi, as of January 2014, has not resumed office as Deputy Chief Executive Director of Operations.

The prosecution, led by Chief State Attorney (CSA) Evelyn Keelson did not debunked this assertion but anchored that Dr. Baah is not privy to any discussion between Dr. Opuni with Dr Franklin Manu Amoah and other scientists on the shortening of the testing period for lithovit fertiliser.

Jerome, third subpoenaed defence witness for Seidu Agongo and Agricult Ghana Limited (DW/A2/A3), testimony on April 25, 2014, gives the ongoing trial by the Land Division of the Accra High Court a whole new twist.For the sake of clarity, lawyer Benson asked the witness on what condition was he employed by CRIG, and Jerome answered that he was employed on merit, after having gone through sending application and job interview.

Jerome stated that he has given similar testimony to the Financial Forensic Unit of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the Police Services and the Adu Yaw Adu-Ampomah committee.

Leading the witness, Mr. Nutsukpui had the witness to established that his interviews with the police and the Adu-Ampomah were limited to lithovit fertiliser and no other fertiliser tested at the time.

The witness denied ever stating that lithovit induce flowering in young cocoa, saying at the nursery the seedlings cannot be at flowering stage.

Jerome explained that after his orientation, he was shown a group of seedlings that were tested with various fertilisers including lithovit and others that were not, adding that seedlings treated with fertilisers were leafy and not flowering