Kofi Boakye Accused

•At Cocaine Trial

The Acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Miss Gertrude Aikins, yesterday suggested that ACP Kofi Boakye, the interdicted Director of Operations of the Ghana Police Service, knew Alhaji Issah Abass, as a cocaine dealer.

She also put it to Issah Abass, standing trial with Kwabena Amaning, alias Tagor, at an Accra Fast-Track High Court for allegedly dealing in cocaine, that he intercepted a police vehicle, which he used to carry cocaine so that nobody would suspect what he was doing.

The Acting DPP said this when she did a cross-examination of Issah in a court presided over by Justice Jones Dotse.

Issah, however, denied the allegations and said he intercepted a police vehicle only after the Ghana Police owed him money and could not pay, adding that they still owed him money.

Responding to his earlier assertion that the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General (A-G) Hon. Joe Ghartey was once his lawyer, Miss Aikins told Issah that it was rather a partner of his, whose agreement with Issah was signed by Joe Ghartey.

According to Miss Aikins, Issah's claims that the investigator in the case, Inspector Adaba and others went to Oda to arrest Sheriff, suspected importer of the 77 parcels of cocaine into the country, but refused to arrest him were false.

To this, Issah maintained that the boys who told him the story were ready to testify in court should they be called.

The prosecutor further accused Issah of walking in the corridors of power of the police service by being friends with those at the top, but he denied it, saying that he sold vehicles and vehicle parts to the Police.

The acting DPP maintained that Issah had no business at Narcotics Control Board (NACOB) and yet he knew the names of all the staff there because he had cocaine dealings with Ben Ndego, the interdicted Director Of Operations of the Board, but Issah again denied it.

The accused person again insisted that he was the one who directed the Police to get the hidden parcel of cocaine on board MV Benjamin.

The acting DPP has since concluded her cross-examination of both accused persons.

Tagor and Issah have pleaded not guilty to seven counts of conspiracy to commit crime, doing prohibited business relating to narcotic drugs, buying and supply of narcotic drugs.

They were alleged to have agreed, on the surreptitiously recorded Kofi Boakye tape, to look for the 76 missing cocaine parcels, as the cash involved was too much for one person to enjoy.
The case has been adjourned to August 14, 2007. Source: Daily Guide - Daily Guide