An Accra High Court has sentenced a Ghanaian and a Guyanese to 15 and 20 years respectively in prison for unlawful possession and importation of cocaine into the country last year.
The two are among five persons who were arrested at the Takoradi Port on board a Guyanese ship containing 414 bales of cocaine. They pleaded guilty upon interrogation.
The captain of the ship, Miller Ronald O’Neil and the Ghanaian Seth Grant, were sentenced 20 and 15 years respectively on each count to run concurrently.
The substance was tested positive in open court by the head of Drugs, Forensic and Cosmetic Department of the Ghana Statistical Service Martin Adarkwa Yiadom.
The court also ordered 30 pieces of 30 samples of the substance to be given to a team from the Drug Enforcement Administration for further test to ascertain the purity, origin and agents involved. The Narcotic Control Board also valued the drugs at US$60 million dollars.
The court, presided over by Justice CJ Hoenyenugah, said it considered the street value of the cocaine, the reputation of the country and the volume of the substance before passing judgment. The state attorney prosecuting the case Samuel Asiamah Sampon also said it will be difficult for the ruling to be overturned, considering the fact that they were convicted upon their admission of guilt.
The court will on Friday start hearing the case of the other three involved.
