"Atemuda" Suspects Remanded

Mr Joe Krampah (right) Manufacturer of the sex- enhancing alcoholic beverage and an accomplice being escorted out of court after proceedings at the Cocoa Affairs Court in Accra.

Mr Joe Krampah (right) Manufacturer of the sex- enhancing alcoholic beverage and an accomplice being escorted out of court after proceedings at the Cocoa Affairs Court in Accra. Six bar operators, who allegedly sell alcohol laced with Indian Hemp and popularly known as “Atemuda”have been remanded in custody by the Accra Circuit Court.

They are to reappear on April 5, 2012.
The accused persons are – Joe Krampah, 56; Patricia Ekua Segoe alias Segua, 40 owner of Anadwo Ye De Spot at Dansoman; Jerry Lindsay, 63, proprietor of Jerris Spot, East Legon; Nana Hemaa Bamfo, a banker and owner of Chrisdas Drinking Bar at Abelemkpe; Kwabena Naba, 54, owner of Naabasan Drinking Bar and Osei Kofi, 45 operator of Captain’s Spot, all at East Legon.

Krampah faced two counts of engaging in prohibited business related to narcotic drugs, failing to register herbal and homeopathic drugs while the other accused persons faced a count each of deception of consumers.

They all pleaded not guilty to the charges before the court on Wednesday but were refused bail by the court, presided over by Ms Audrey Korcuvie-Tay.

The facts of the case were that about three years ago, Krampah without licence from the Food and Drugs Board (FDB) began producing a local gin known as Atemuda ATM, Oshiemu, Two Fingers and Oshie Fridge Mu, adulterated with narcotic drugs without a label in his house number J 15, Affiakuma in Takoradi.

Krampah ignored all relevant regulations and did not register the products in his bid to outwit any detection of mixing his products produced under unhygienic conditions.

Patricia, Nana Hemaa and Kwabena acted as the main distributors for Krampah in Accra.

Jerry and Osei on the otherhand, got their consignment from Patricia and retailed the drinks to the general public thereby endangering their lives.

According to the prosecution, all the drinks retrieved from Krampah tested positive for cannabis sativa, a narcotic drug during field tests.

The prosecution prayed the court to remand the accused persons since investigations were ongoing.