The SWAT Unit of the Ghana Police Service apprehended a 33-year-old porter for having two polythene bags carrying dried leaves believed to be Indian hemp at Airport Junction, also known as Gate Four, in Accra. The Police observed Baba Alhassan, who runs a bar, smoking some of the dried leaves. He allegedly dumped the dried leaves in a trash can after noticing the police. Alhassan denied the charge of unlawful possession or control of narcotic narcotics for use when he appeared before an Accra Circuit Court. Alhassan has been granted bail by the court, presided over by Mr. Samuel Bright Acquah, in the amount of GHC50,000 with two sureties who must work for the government and make at least GHC2,000 a month.
The sureties must fall under the jurisdiction of the court, according to the Court. The accused was further instructed to appear before the police each Monday and Friday. The Court is still awaiting the results of the tests on the dried leaves that were thought to be marijuana. Inspector Daniel Dzanku, who is in charge of the prosecution, claimed that the complainants in the case are members of the Ghana Police Service’s SWAT Unit who are stationed at the Greater Accra Headquarters. While doing their routine patrol duties on February 21, 2023, the complainants learned that the accused was selling dried leaves at his drinking establishment that were thought to be Indian hemp.
According to the prosecution, when the police arrived at Gate Four at Airport Junction, they encountered the defendant there who was smoking what they believed to be Indian hemp. According to the report, the accused person placed the drug in a trash can after seeing the police and humorously approached them. The accused was forced to take the material out of the trash, the prosecution said the jury. Two plastic containers containing Akpeteshie (local gin) and other substances suspected to be narcotic drugs, two tiny polythene bags, and pieces of dried leaves considered to be narcotic drugs were found during a search of his drinking establishment and place of residence, according to the report.
The Prosecution said Alhassan claimed ownership for the substances in his investigation caution statement, adding that they were his personal use. When the accused was quizzed by the Police over his source of supply, he indicated that “a certain young man brought it from the Volta Region.” The Prosecution said the accused said he did not know the name of the said young man and his phone number. All the exhibits have been forwarded to the Crime Laboratory for examination, according to Prosecution.
