The Odumase Krobo Circuit, presided over by His Honour, Judge Kwesi Apiatse Abaiddu, has handed a seven-year prison sentence to one Issifu Nyandi, who was found guilty of attempting to smuggle bags of cocoa beans from Ghana to neighbouring Togo.
The accused, who was convicted on his plea, was arrested with the cocoa beans on Wednesday, April 24, by the Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Taskforce while on board a Ho-bound Ford Transit Bus with registration number GG-2749-21 to transport them to the Republic of Togo.
According to the facts of the case as told in court on Friday, April 26, the Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Taskforce, upon a tip-off, intercepted the said bus around 5 p.m., and upon thorough search, six bags of cocoa beans, concealed in poly sacks were subsequently retrieved.
Upon interrogation, the accused, Issifu, claimed ownership of the contraband.
According to the prosecution, the accused bought the cocoa beans from Koforidua in the Eastern Region. They transported them to Tudu in Accra to cart them to the Republic of Togo to sell.
However, upon tip-off, the Taskforce swiftly arrested him on board the bus and handed him over to the Akosombo Police on the same day.
Upon further investigations, Issifu was arraigned before the Odumase Krobo Circuit and charged with offences of purchase of cocoa without authority contrary to S4 of the Ghana Cocoa Board Act, 1984 (PNDCL81), attempting to smuggle cocoa beans contrary to S317(i) of the Criminal and Other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29), and attempting to export cocoa beans that have not been inspected, graded, and sealed by an inspector of cocoa, contrary to S 3 of the Cocoa Industry Regulations Act, 1968 (NLCD278).
According to the laws of Ghana, the penalty under S4 of PNDCL 81 is a custodial sentence of between five and ten years without the option of a fine.
The accused pleaded guilty to the offences and was subsequently convicted on his plea by the presiding judge to seven years in prison.
According to information, two earlier convictions were recorded by the same court last week, highlighting the increasing spate of incidents of cocoa smuggling in the country in recent times.
The swift and decisive actions taken by the Anti-Cocoa Smuggling Task Force not only thwarted the nefarious attempts by the convict to circumvent the laws of the country but also underscored the vigilance and determination of the Ghana Cocoa Board and other security agencies to combat the illegal activities that continue to threaten the integrity and survival of Ghana’s cocoa industry.
