Court Summons Tema Regional Police Commander

The Accra Fast Track High Court has ordered the Tema Regional Commander of the Ghana Police Service to appear before it today to explain circumstances leading to the arrest of a potential witness in a drug case.

It involves the trial of Alhaji Issa Abass and Kwabena Amaning, alias Tagor who are standing trial for allegedly dealing in narcotic drugs.

Abass is facing two counts of conspiracy and supply of narcotic drugs, while Tagor faces four counts of conspiracy, engaging in prohibited business related to narcotic drugs, buying of narcotic drugs and supplying narcotic drugs.

They have pleaded not guilty to all the counts and have been refused bail by the Fast Track High Court.

The witness, whose name was given, only as Konu, was arrested by the police after Abass had informed the court in his evidence-in-chief on July 24, 2007 that Konu and another potential witness, Nana Yaw, were present when the police allowed the importer of the 77 parcels of cocaine to abscond.

Abass had said that he had detailed two young men to assist police officers to identify Sheriff Asem Dakeh, alias the Limping Man, at a funeral at Ada but instead of arresting the drug importer, the policemen deliberately allowed him to abscond.

The accused person said at the funeral ground, Sheriff, who knew the young men, started moving towards his car when he saw them, adding that as Sheriff left the funeral ground in his four-wheel drive, the two men who had helped to identify him demanded an explanation for the lackadaisical posture of the policemen, upon which they were told that they (the policemen) were driving a vehicle with a smaller engine, which could not chase Sheriff's 4X4 vehicle.

He said subsequent to that, the police arrested Sheriff's wife, as well as the wife and brother of another drug suspect called Killer, but they let both of them off the hook.

The trial judge, who expressed his disappointment at the action of the police, gave the order after counsel for Abass, Mr Mohammed Atta, had informed the court of the arrest and detention of the witness.

According to Mr Atta, the arrest and detention of Konu had scared Nana Yaw, who was also expected to testify in the case.

After this, the trial judge, Mr Justice Jones Dotse, said although the police had a right to do their work they did not have the right to intimidate a witness.

He said the police neither had the right to stifle the administration of justice nor manipulate the administration of justice.

Justice Dotse then questioned a Chief State Attorney, Ms Gertrude Aikins, on what was happening.

Ms Aikins, who is also the acting Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said the prosecution knew nothing about the said arrest and detention of Konu.

Justice Dotse then ordered the Tema Regional Commander of the Ghana Police Service, the Regional Crime Officer or their representative to appear before the court and explain the circumstances surrounding the arrest and detention of Konu.

He then directed the investigator in Abass and Tagor's case, Mr Charles Adaba, to bring the court's order to the notice of the Tema Regional Commander.

Initially, Kwabena Acheampong, Tagor, Abass, Victor Kisseh, alias Yaw Billah, and Alhaji Moro Mohammed were arraigned at the Accra Circuit Court for allegedly dealing in narcotic drugs.

Some of them were said to have engaged in a conversation relating to the missing cocaine on board the MV Benjamin at the residence of ACP Kofi Boakye, the subject of which led to the setting up of the Justice Georgina Wood Committee.

However, November 22, 2006, the prosecution entered a nolle prosequi (not willing to prosecute), resulting in the discharge of the accused persons. But fresh charges were preferred against Tagor and Abass, leading to their appearance at the Fast Track High Court.

Story by Mabel Aku Baneseh