Bartender jailed for unlawful sale of narcotic drugs 

The Accra Circuit Court has sentenced a Bartender to 13 years imprisonment with hard labour, for unlawful control of narcotic drugs, following his arrest at a drinking spot at Osu-Nyaniba Estate.

The convict, whose name has not been disclosed, was found guilty on two counts, under the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019), after police officers from the Drug Law Enforcement Unit of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Headquarters acted on intelligence and apprehended him on August 31, 2022.

The presiding judge, Her Honour Christiana Cann, handed down concurrent sentences of 13 years imprisonment with hard labour on each of the two counts, in addition to a monetary fine of 15,000 penalty units for each count — amounting to 30,000 penalty units in total.

At GH¢12.00 per unit the total fine amounts to GH¢360,000.

In default of payment, the convict will serve an additional three years imprisonment for each count.

According to brief facts presented in court, the accused operated a drinking spot known as “OTANFO NYE NYAME” at Osu-Nyaniba Estate.

Police arrested him around 12:45 p.m. on the day in question, where they recovered quantities of suspected cannabis hidden in various containers, polythene bags and sacks within the bar premises and his personal room.

The seized items included four (4) white containers labeled “BROTHERS CO. LTD,” a black polythene bag, a fertilizer sack, a white polythene bag and four (4) litres of alcoholic beverages and a plastic bottle, all suspected to be infused with cannabis.

Subsequent forensic analysis confirmed the substances were cannabis, with a total net weight exceeding 28 kilograms.

During police interrogation, the convict admitted the drugs belonged to him and identified one “Charles” from Keta in the Volta Region as his supplier.

However, he failed to cooperate in efforts to apprehend Charles.

DSP Abel Amanie led the prosecution, charging the accused with two counts of unlawful control of narcotic drugs contrary to Section 37 of the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019).

Her Honour Christiana Cann delivered the sentence on Monday, emphasizing the grave societal danger posed by narcotics trafficking and the need for deterrence.

The sentences are to run concurrently.

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