Tarkwa labourer fined GH¢120,000 over cannabis, tramadol possession
By DL News
Published
2 min read
The convict, who resides at Tarkwa Railway Station in the Western Region, faces a three-year prison term if he fails to pay the fine imposed by the court.
A 20-year-old labourer, Kojo Sah Nkrumah, has been ordered by the Tarkwa Circuit Court to pay a fine of GH¢120,000 after admitting to unlawfully possessing and selling narcotic drugs.
The convict, who resides at Tarkwa Railway Station in the Western Region, faces a three-year prison term if he fails to pay the fine imposed by the court.
Presiding judge Ms Bernice Mensimah Ackon convicted Nkrumah on his own plea of guilty to two counts relating to the possession and sale of narcotic drugs without lawful authority.
Police uncover suspected drugs during night patrol
Presenting the facts of the case, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Samuel Ahiabor explained that Nkrumah was arrested during a routine police patrol on January 21, 2025.
According to the prosecution, a team of officers from the Western Central Regional Formed Police Unit (RFPU), led by Chief Inspector Issahaque Yahaya, was conducting a night patrol when it extended its operations to the Tarkwa Railway Station area.
At approximately 1:30 a.m., the officers reportedly encountered Nkrumah sitting beneath a shed where he appeared to be selling substances suspected to be narcotic drugs.
The police subsequently searched a takeaway bag in his possession and discovered 81 wraps of dried leaves suspected to be cannabis, together with seven sachets of tramadol.
An additional GH¢240 in cash, suspected to be proceeds from the sale of the substances, was also retrieved during the operation.
Following the discovery, the officers arrested Nkrumah and transported him to the Tarkwa Police Station, where the suspected substances were retained as exhibits.
Forensic examination confirms cannabis content
As part of investigations, the seized exhibits were forwarded to the Forensic Crime Laboratory in Accra on April 25, 2025, for examination.
The laboratory report, received on May 13, 2025, confirmed that the plant material contained delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the principal psychoactive component of cannabis.
According to the prosecution, the recovered cannabis had a gross weight of 139.61 grammes.
Nkrumah was subsequently prosecuted for possessing and selling narcotic drugs without lawful authority.
He admitted the offences before the Tarkwa Circuit Court, leading to his conviction on his own plea.
The court imposed a fine of GH¢120,000, with a three-year custodial sentence to be served in default of payment.
