The Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection has initiated steps to appeal the sentence of the the mother of nine jailed 11 years for selling alcohol mixed with Indian hemp to the public, by requesting the records of the case.
Ama Forson was sentenced by an Accra Circuit Court after she was charged with unlawful possession of narcotic drugs but pleaded not guilty to the charge and denied having knowledge of the drugs.
The Minister of Gender and Social Protection, Nana Oye Lithur earlier announced that her outfit would be liaising with the Attorney General’s Department to assess the circumstances of the case and provide support including legal services.
The records requested by the Gender Ministry are expected to guide the ministry on its next line of action as it seeks to appeal the sentencing of the woman.
Facts
The court, Presided over by Mr. Aboagye Tandoh, in his ruling said the convict, apart from having custody of the drugs, knew the drugs were Indian hemp.
The facts of the case were that, on September 29, 2015, the New Weija Police arrested the convict in a swoop at Bortianor in the Ga Central Municipality.
The police, during their search on her premises, retrieved quantities of dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp from her black ladies’ handbag.
The search also revealed a wine bottle containing dried leaves suspected to be Indian hemp and liquid.
The sentence has been widely criticized as highhanded for the offense in question particularly when the convict has nine children to be catered for.
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By: Magdalene Teiko Larnyoh/citifmonline.com/Ghana