Farmer jailed for possessing cannabis

Kumasi, Oct.31, GNA - A circuit court in Kumasi has sentenced a 40-year-old farmer to 20 years imprisonment in hard labour for possessing 13,400 grammes of Indian hemp.

Kwadwo Boadu, alias “Kwadwo Dada” or “Commissaire” pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Police Chief Inspector Archibald Kwesi Fandoh told the Court presided over by Justice Emmanuel Amo-Yartey that on July 25, 2009, at about 1630hours, the police had a tip off that Boadu was drying a quantity of the leaves suspected to Indian hemp in his house.

The prosecution said when the police got to the house, they found the convict packing the dried leaves into black polythene bags and he was apprehended after he fiercely resisted arrest.

Chief Insp Fankoh said Boadu in a caution statement, confessed to the crime, however, he could not lead the police to the source of supply of the dried leaves at Sefwi Wiawso, as he claimed.

The prosecution said that a forensic laboratory examination had proved that the suspected leaves were cannabis.

Justice Amo-Yartey ordered that the exhibit should be destroyed in the presence of the media and the court registrar.

GNA