Five businessmen arrested at Kotoka International Airport in 2019 for the importation of 2,200 grams of cocaine have been slapped with a total of 60 years in prison.
The verdict was delivered by the High Court in Accra, presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo.
The convicted individuals are Frank Asante (First Accused), Kweku Antwi (2nd Accused, currently at large), Alhassan Iddrisu (3rd Accused), Clifford Boakye (4th Accused), and Isaac Kwakye (5th Accused). The court found them guilty on three counts: Conspiracy to commit a crime, namely possession of a narcotic; importation of narcotic drugs; and possession of narcotic drugs.
Justice Osei Marfo imposed the minimum punishment of 10 years each on all the convicts under the old Narcotics Control Law PNDC Law 236, which has since been amended by Act 1019.
“I have listened to Counsel on both sides and I have looked at the old (PNDC Law 236) and the new law (Act 1019). And I am satisfied that, (under) the old law, the punishment for the offenses for which they have been charged is lesser in severity than the new law in the same offense,” Justice Marfo stated.
The court considered mitigation factors and the conduct of the convicts during the trial. All five individuals were sentenced to 10 years each for Conspiracy to commit a crime, possession of a narcotic, and possession of narcotic.
For the charge of importation of narcotic drugs, Asante and Antwi were separately sentenced to an additional 10 years each. The four present in court will serve their sentences concurrently, while Antwi, who jumped bail, will serve his punishment consecutively upon arrest.
Justice Marfo addressed the constitutional provisions under Article 19(6) of the Constitution, stating, “I cannot impose punishment stipulated under the new law.”
The case originated from intelligence gathered by the Narcotic Control Board (NACOB), indicating that Frank Asante and his accomplices had been importing and dealing in narcotic substances from Brazil and other countries.
The intelligence team observed Asante’s activities, leading to the arrest of the accused persons at Kotoka International Airport in July 2019, with 2,200 grams of cocaine discovered in their possession.
The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) confirmed the purity and weight of the substances. The court’s decision reflects a strong stance against drug trafficking and reinforces the legal consequences for those involved in such illicit activities.