Trader accused of possession of narcotic substance denied bail a second time

For the second time in less than a month, an Accra Circuit Court has denied bail to Alhassan Shiabu, a trader facing charges for allegedly possessing illegal drugs. 

His legal troubles deepened on July 14, 2025, as the court, presided over by Judge Samuel Bright Acquah, postponed the case due to the absence of a forensic report on the seized substances.

Shiabu, who was first arraigned in June, has yet to enter a plea. He is scheduled to reappear before the court on July 22, 2025.

According to police accounts presented in court, the accused was apprehended during a coordinated drug raid on June 20 at a notorious narcotics hotspot near Abossey Okai, known locally as a “wee base.” The operation, led by the Accra Regional Police Command, reportedly uncovered a bag containing 30 wraps of a dried plant material believed to be Indian hemp.

Chief Inspector Ramatu Asumah, who presented the facts, explained that Shiabu denied ownership of the bag. He claimed that he had only gone to Korle to visit a friend named “Antarrow,” who allegedly left the bag behind when he noticed police arriving.

Despite Shiabu’s explanation, investigators say he has failed to help them trace the whereabouts of this alleged friend.

He remains in custody while police continue investigations into the incident. The court awaits the final forensic analysis to confirm the nature of the substances before taking the next legal steps.