A Circuit Court in Tema has sentenced two police officers to a total of 13 years in prison after finding them guilty of unlawful possession of narcotics and conspiracy to traffic narcotic substances. The judgement, delivered by Her Lordship Aleanor Kakra Barnes Botchway, brings an end to a nearly four-year trial that shocked the nation due to the involvement of senior police personnel.
Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Nasiru Amadu, aged 48, and Corporal Emmanuel Mintah, aged 43, were convicted for their roles in transporting large quantities of Indian hemp from the Volta Region to Accra.
Arrest and Seizure
According to the prosecution, led by ASP Ernest Kuofie, the case began after a police officer at the Afienya District Police Command filed a complaint in 2023 about the suspicious activities of the two officers.
On November 19, 2023, intelligence indicated that a Nissan Navara (GP 727) was being used to transport narcotics from Ho to Accra. When the vehicle arrived at a snap checkpoint around 7:15 p.m., officers intercepted it. A search uncovered eight sacks containing 541 compressed parcels of suspected narcotic drugs.
Further investigations revealed that Corporal Mintah had been hired by a relative, known as “Oluman,” a suspected narcotics dealer based in Ashaiman Tulaku. Mintah then recruited ASP Amadu to support the operation. Together, they drove to a forest area near Peki Tsibu in the Volta Region, where they received the drugs from a waiting Benz bus.
The court also established that this was not the first time the officers had engaged in such illegal operations.
Legal Findings and Sentencing
Laboratory analysis by the Forensic Crime Laboratory confirmed the substances as narcotics. The court found both officers guilty under:
- Section 23(1) of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960
- Section 37(2)(b) of the Narcotic Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019)
They were also fined 10,000 penalty units (GH₵120,000) each. Failure to pay the fine will result in an additional three years imprisonment.
Public Reaction
The case has drawn widespread public attention, especially due to the involvement of trusted law enforcement officers in organised drug trafficking. The sentencing is seen as a significant step in reinforcing accountability within the Ghana Police Service and combating narcotics-related crimes.
