The Juaso Circuit Court has handed down a sentence of a GHS 6,000.00 fine and six months imprisonment to two individuals for illegally reproducing and selling Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s agro-chemicals without authorization.
Kwadwo Effah, a trader, and Emmanuel Ayivi, a driver, have been sentenced to two years in prison each if they fail to pay the fine. They pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to sell someone’s product and unauthorized reproduction of someone’s product.
The prosecution, led by Police Chief Inspector Dela Amenuvor, informed the court, presided over by Nana Asantewaa Atakorah, that the complainant, James Nsiah, was the Chief Security Officer of the Kristo Asafo Church in the Ashanti Region.
It was revealed that the Founder and Leader of the church had produced agro-chemicals that were yet to be officially launched. However, certain individuals were unlawfully selling these products under the label “Akate Suro Africa Star.”
To combat this illegal activity, members of the church nationwide were alerted to be vigilant in identifying the culprits, according to the prosecution’s statement.
Chief Inspector Amenuvor explained that on June 22, at approximately 07:30 hours, one Kwame Agyei Asamoah, a witness in the case, was approached by Ayivi, who had in his possession agro-chemicals labeled under Apostle Kwadwo Safo’s name.
When he enquired about where the source of the chemicals, he mentioned the name of Effah, prompting him to call the Chief Security of the church who arranged for the arrest of the Ayivi.
Ayivi assisted the police to arrest Effah and a taxicab with registration number GS 9159 which was used to convey the chemicals to farmers.
The police retrieved 87 insecticide powder, 24 labelled bottles of agro- chemicals as well as 13 unlabelled chemicals from the cab.
Effah in his caution statement admitted reproducing the products and acted together with Ayivi to sell same to farmers without authorisation from the original manufacturers.