Police destroy 600 sacks of Indian hemp in Ho

The Volta Regional Police Command has destroyed 600 fertiliser sacks filled with Indian hemp, weighing a total of 47,530 kilograms and valued at about GH¢4.2 billion.

This followed a court order issued after the completion of a criminal trial.

The burning exercise was carried out on Monday, November 17, at about 2:30 p.m.

The exhibits were part of a 2022 case titled The Republic versus Yao Kwadwo (also known as Wallako) and two others.

In a statement released on Thursday, November 20, and signed by Chief Inspector Francis Kwaru Gomado, Head of the Public Affairs Unit of the Volta Region, the Police explained that the Ho Circuit Court approved the destruction after the Indian hemp had been officially presented in court as evidence.

According to the release, “the six hundred sacks contained a total of forty-seven thousand, five hundred and thirty kilograms (47,530kg) with an estimated face value of about 4.2 billion Ghana cedis”.

The order for disposal was granted by the Ho Circuit Court, presided over by His Honour Felix Datsumor Esq. The burning was supervised by a team that included Mr Moses Dzanfi, Circuit Court Registrar; Mr Joseph Opusomah, State Attorney; Mr Daniel John Pekyi of the Narcotics Control Commission; and Mr Emmanuel Mensah Gbekor of the Environmental Protection Authority.

The exhibits were “completely burnt under strict Police, National Security and media presence at about 22:30 hours at the Kiefe dumping site in Ho,” the statement added.

The Regional Police Command expressed gratitude to all partners involved in combating drug trafficking, stating that it “appreciates the support of stakeholders in the fight against the drug menace”.